Adopting an intersectoral One Health approach in India: Time for One Health Committees

Dasgupta, Rajib; Tomley, Fiona; Alders, Robyn; Barbuddhe, SukhadeoB; Kotwani, Anita

Abstract

Following the several episodes of zoonotic disease outbreaks and the more recent COVID-19 pandemic, the Indian policy initiatives are committed to institutionalize One Health (OH) approaches and promote intersectoral, transdisciplinary collaboration and cooperation. The OH principle needs to be visualized beyond the scope of zoonoses. While conservation, ecological and veterinary professions are getting increasingly engaged with OH, most of the medical/clinical and social sciences professions are only peripherally aware of its nuances. The OH initiatives, by their essentially multidisciplinary nature, entail working across ministries and navigating tacit institutional hierarchies and allocating leadership roles. The logical operational step will be the constitution of One Health Committees (OHC) at the State and district levels. Here, we outline the key foundational principles of OHC and hope that the framework for implementation shall be deliberated through wider consultations and piloted and adopted in a phased manner.

Citation

Dasgupta, R., Tomley, F., Alders, R., Barbuddhe, S., & Kotwani, A. (2021). Adopting an intersectoral One Health approach in India: Time for One Health Committees. Indian Journal of Medical Research, 153(3), 281. https://doi.org/10.4103/ijmr.ijmr_537_21

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 1, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Mar 1, 2021
• Publication Date: 2021
• Deposit Date: May 9, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: May 9, 2023
• Journal: Indian Journal of Medical Research
• Print ISSN: 0971-5916
• Publisher: Medknow Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 153
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 281
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/ijmr.ijmr_537_21
• Keywords: General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology; General Medicine