Context
On World Health Day 2026 (April 7, theme: “Together for Health. Stand with Science”), The Hindu editorial makes the case for India to fully operationalise the “One Health” approach: an integrated framework that recognises the interdependence of human, animal, and environmental health. The editorial draws on lessons from COVID-19, the 2025 H5N1 avian influenza outbreak in Southeast Asia, and the 2025 WHO Pandemic Agreement to argue that India’s siloed health governance, where human health (Ministry of Health), animal health (Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying), and environmental health (MoEFCC) are administered separately, leaves critical surveillance gaps at the animal-human-environment interface.
The Editorial Argument
1. Why One Health Is Not a New Idea But an Urgent One
The editorial traces the “One Health” concept to veterinary scientists of the 19th century (Rudolf Virchow’s “zoonosis” framework, 1855) and notes that roughly 60% of all known human infectious diseases are zoonotic: originating in animals before jumping to humans. COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2, likely bat coronavirus), SARS, MERS, Ebola, Nipah, and H5N1 all originated at the animal-human-environment interface. The editorial argues that India, with its dense population, high livestock density, and shared wildlife-human habitat interfaces, is uniquely exposed.
2. The 2025 WHO Pandemic Agreement
The WHO Pandemic Agreement (adopted May 2025) mandates member states to:
- Establish integrated zoonotic disease surveillance linking animal and human health authorities
- Share pathogen samples and genomic sequences with WHO and other states
- Build PABS (Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing) systems
- Strengthen primary healthcare and One Health institutional capacity
India signed the Agreement and is required to develop an implementation plan.
3. India’s National One Health Mission: Potential and Gaps
India’s National One Health Mission (announced in Union Budget 2023-24) creates a framework for integrating:
- Human health surveillance (IDSP, Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme)
- Animal disease surveillance (NADCP, National Animal Disease Control Programme)
- Environmental pathogen monitoring (ENVIS network under MoEFCC)
The editorial endorses this Mission but notes:
- Veterinary infrastructure in India is severely underfunded, state governments treat it as a low-priority department
- Wildlife health monitoring is almost non-existent, the forest department and wildlife institute are not formally linked to disease surveillance
- One Health laboratories (proposed in 16 states) face budget constraints and skilled staffing shortages
4. Nipah as a Case Study for One Health Relevance
Kerala’s Nipah outbreaks (2018, 2023) demonstrate the value of rapid human-animal-environment integration:
- 2018: Fruit bats (Pteropus medius) identified as reservoir within weeks
- 2023: Contact tracing extended to bat roost sites; forestry and health departments coordinated
- Yet: no permanent One Health surveillance infrastructure was created; each outbreak required crisis-mode improvisation
Key Institutions and Frameworks
| Institution / Framework | Role |
|---|---|
| WHO Pandemic Agreement (2025) | Mandates zoonotic surveillance, PABS, One Health capacity |
| National One Health Mission | India’s federal programme (2023-24) |
| IDSP | Human disease surveillance (Ministry of Health) |
| NADCP | Animal disease control programme (DAHD) |
| WOAH | World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) |
| FAO | Food and Agriculture Organization, livestock disease monitoring |
| ENVIS (MoEFCC) | Environmental information network, limited disease linkage |
| NiV Task Force (Kerala) | State-level One Health response template (improvised) |
UPSC Relevance
GS Paper 2: Health, International Organisations
- One Health approach, WHO, FAO, WOAH, UNEP quadripartite joint plan
- WHO Pandemic Agreement, PABS, pathogen sharing, equity debates
- India’s disease surveillance, IDSP, NADCP, state health departments
GS Paper 3: Environment
- Zoonotic diseases as an environmental health issue
- Biodiversity loss and pandemic risk, deforestation, wildlife trade, spillover
Mains Angle
“India’s fragmented health governance, with separate ministries for human, animal, and environmental health, creates critical gaps in pandemic preparedness. Critically examine with reference to the One Health approach.” (GS2 + GS3)
Facts Corner
| Item | Fact |
|---|---|
| World Health Day theme 2026 | “Together for Health. Stand with Science” |
| World Health Day date | April 7 annually (WHO founding: April 7, 1948) |
| Zoonotic disease share | ~60% of human infectious diseases are zoonotic |
| Key zoonotic diseases | COVID-19, SARS, MERS, Nipah, Ebola, H5N1, Rabies |
| WHO Pandemic Agreement | Adopted May 2025; mandates One Health integration |
| National One Health Mission | Announced Budget 2023-24 |
| Nipah outbreaks in India | 2018 (Kerala), 2023 (Kerala), fruit bats as reservoir |
| WOAH | World Organisation for Animal Health (previously OIE) |
| One Health framework pillars | Human + Animal + Environmental health |
| IDSP | Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (human health) |
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