Context:
• The One Health approach is gaining global prominence post-COVID-19, emphasizing integrated health systems to tackle pandemics and emerging diseases.
Key Highlights:
- Global Developments
• WHO Pandemic Agreement (May 2025) – legally binding treaty for pandemic preparedness
• Quadripartite Collaboration:
- WHO
- FAO
- UNEP
- WOAH
• Launch of One Health Joint Plan of Action (2022)
- Concept Evolution
• Emerged after SARS (2003-04) and avian influenza (H5N1)
• Reinforced by COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting need for global coordination and data sharing - India’s Initiatives
• National One Health Mission for integrated disease surveillance
• Focus on zoonotic diseases, AMR, and ecosystem health
• Complemented by state initiatives like:
- Odisha’s Climate Budget
- Kerala’s carbon-neutral plan
- Tamil Nadu’s Green Climate Company
- Key Areas of Focus
• Zoonotic diseases (animal-to-human transmission)
• Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)
• Sustainable food systems
• Environmental conservation - Significance
• Improves pandemic preparedness and response
• Enhances inter-sectoral coordination
• Promotes sustainable health systems
Relevant Prelims Points:
• One Health: Integrated approach linking human, animal, and environmental health
• Zoonotic Diseases: Diseases transmitted from animals to humans (e.g., COVID-19, Nipah)
• AMR: Resistance of microbes to drugs, making infections harder to treat
• WHO Pandemic Agreement: Global treaty for pandemic response and equity
• WOAH: World Organisation for Animal Health
Relevant Mains Points:
- Need for One Health Approach
- Increasing zoonotic disease outbreaks
- Interconnectedness of ecosystems and human health
- Globalisation accelerating disease spread
- Challenges in Implementation
- Fragmented institutional frameworks
- Lack of data sharing and coordination
- Limited funding and trained workforce
- India’s Preparedness
- Strengthening disease surveillance systems
- Integrating human and veterinary health sectors
- Leveraging digital health platforms
- Way Forward
- Institutionalize One Health governance framework
- Enhance global cooperation and data sharing
- Invest in research, surveillance, and capacity building
- Promote sustainable environmental practices
UPSC Relevance:
• GS Paper II – Health, International Relations
• GS Paper III – Environment, Science & Technology