India is leading the way in establishing a legal framework to support the One Health initiative, showcasing advanced leadership and vision in this area, according to Dr. Vinod Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog. Speaking at the recent inauguration of a two-day National Consultation on Legal Environment Assessment for the One Health initiative, Dr. Paul emphasized the importance of a national consultation involving multiple partners and stakeholders, especially in the wake of COVID-19, which highlighted the significance of zoonotic diseases and the interconnectedness of human, animal, and plant ecosystems.
Dr. Paul was joined by Shri Apurva Chandra, Secretary, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW); Ms. Leena Nandan, Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC); and Shri Rajiv Mani, Secretary, Ministry of Law & Justice.
Dr. Paul highlighted that challenges such as zoonoses, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), food safety, and climate change are interconnected and require a multi-sectoral approach to integrate human, animal, and environmental health sectors. He noted that India is taking the lead in ensuring One Health goals in line with the Prime Minister’s vision of “One Earth, One Health.” He mentioned that India is framing the National Action Plan (NAP) 2.0 to address AMR, conceptualizing the One Health Mission, and tackling broader climate change issues. Achieving these goals, he stressed, necessitates state engagement, alignment of Indian laws with international laws, and a cross-sectoral response.
Shri Apurva Chandra emphasized that over 75% of human diseases are zoonotic and reaffirmed the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare’s commitment to managing risks at the human-animal-plant interface through the One Health approach. He highlighted the need for collective and coordinated action and noted that under PM-ABHIM, states are being strengthened in surveillance, prevention, and management of zoonotic and other diseases. He acknowledged gaps and overlaps in India’s legislative framework due to sectoral priorities and called for support from line ministries and states in implementing One Health goals.
Ms. Leena Nandan underscored the necessity of a unified approach among ministries to achieve One Health goals. She assured that the Environment Ministry is committed to making necessary provisions under existing wildlife and environment acts to ensure human health and conservation of wild animals. She noted that One Health has been a key topic during the G20 under the “One Earth, One Family, One Future” theme and emphasized the need for capacity building of on-ground functionaries and communities for successful implementation.
As reported by Medical Dialogues, Shri Rajiv Mani reiterated the Ministry of Law and Justice’s support in amending existing laws and policy frameworks to align with One Health principles. He affirmed the ministry’s commitment to protecting the health of all species, including animals, and addressing climate concerns.