National One Health Assembly 2025 Advocates Integrated Health Governance

Context:

• The National One Health Mission Assembly 2025 was organized under the theme “One Earth, One Health, One Future.”

• Hosted by the Department of Health Research (DHR) under the National One Health Mission, the Assembly highlighted India’s integrated approach toward strengthening health security and pandemic preparedness.

• It emphasized cross-sectoral collaboration to address emerging threats like zoonotic diseases and antimicrobial resistance.

Key Highlights:

• About National One Health Assembly 2025:

  • Platform bringing together ministries, departments, academicians, and experts.

  • Showcases India’s leadership in adopting a multi-sectoral One Health approach.

  • Promotes integrated governance across human, animal, and environmental health systems.

• What is One Health?

  • A framework integrating human health, animal health, and environmental health.

  • Recognizes interlinkages between ecosystems and disease transmission.

  • Critical for managing:

    • Zoonotic diseases (e.g., COVID-19, Avian Influenza).

    • Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).

    • Food safety and biosecurity threats.

• Need & Objectives:

  • India has one of the largest livestock populations and rich biodiversity.

  • Dense human population increases risk of cross-sectoral disease transmission.

  • Past outbreaks:

    • COVID-19

    • Avian Influenza

    • Lumpy Skin Disease

  • Aim: Strengthen preparedness, protect food security, livelihoods, and biodiversity.

• Key Challenges Identified:

  • Siloed functioning of health, agriculture, and environment sectors.

  • Limited surveillance systems for zoonotic diseases and AMR.

  • Resource gaps in rural and peri-urban areas.

  • Global inequities and trade barriers affecting equitable implementation.

• Steps Taken in India:

  • National One Health Mission (2021) – institutionalize cross-sector coordination.

  • Ayushman Bharat and eSanjeevani Telemedicine – improve access to healthcare.

  • Mission Indradhanush – strengthen immunization coverage.

  • Release of BSL-3 Laboratory Network SOP Compendium for standardized high-containment lab practices.

• Significance:

  • Enhances India’s resilience against pandemics.

  • Promotes science-based policymaking and inter-agency coordination.

  • Aligns with global health governance and sustainable development.

Relevant Prelims Points:

• Issue & Background:

  • Over 60% of emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic in origin.

  • Rising AMR threatens effectiveness of antibiotics.

  • Climate change intensifies vector-borne diseases.

• National One Health Mission (2021):

  • Proposed by Government of India to institutionalize coordination across:

    • Health Ministry

    • Agriculture & Animal Husbandry

    • Environment Ministry

  • Focus on zoonotic disease surveillance, research, and response.

• Key Schemes Linked to One Health:

  • Ayushman Bharat – PM-JAY.

  • Mission Indradhanush.

  • Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP).

  • National Programme on AMR containment.

• Benefits / Importance:

  • Early detection and rapid response to outbreaks.

  • Protects public health and economic stability.

  • Ensures food safety and biodiversity conservation.

• Challenges / Risks:

  • Institutional coordination gaps.

  • Insufficient laboratory and diagnostic capacity.

  • Unequal access to healthcare infrastructure.

  • Global disparities in finance and vaccine distribution.

• Impact (India + Global):

  • Strengthens India’s preparedness for pandemics.

  • Contributes to global health security and SDGs (especially SDG 3 & 15).

Relevant Mains Points:

• Core Concept / Static Linkage:

  • Concept of Health Security and Pandemic Preparedness.

  • Link to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

  • Interplay between climate change, biodiversity, and public health.

• Constitutional / Legal / Institutional Linkages:

  • Public health under State List (Entry 6, List II).

  • Concurrent role through central schemes and disaster management frameworks.

  • National Disaster Management Act relevance during pandemics.

• Governance / Economic / Social Dimensions:

  • Importance of breaking silos across ministries.

  • Investment in health infrastructure and research.

  • Strengthening rural healthcare and veterinary services.

  • Need for equitable global health financing.

• Keywords for Answer Writing:

  • One Health Approach

  • Zoonotic Spillover

  • Antimicrobial Resistance

  • Health Security

  • Pandemic Preparedness

  • Cross-Sectoral Governance

• Way Forward:

  • Develop integrated national data-sharing platform.

  • Strengthen zoonotic surveillance networks.

  • Promote community awareness and behavioral change.

  • Leverage AI and predictive analytics for outbreak forecasting.

  • Enhance global cooperation and equitable technology transfer.

UPSC Relevance (GS-wise):

• GS2: Health governance, public policy, inter-sectoral coordination.

• GS3: Science & Technology, Disaster Management, Food Security.

• GS4: Ethical governance in public health and global equity.