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NEW DELHI: With 75% of new human diseases originating in animals, India is stepping up efforts to bridge the gap between human, animal and environmental health. Govt is set to launch ‘National One Health Mission’, a Rs 383 crore cross-ministerial initiative to build coordinated surveillance, research and response systems to prevent outbreaks like Covid, Nipah, scrub typhus, avian influenza, reports Anuja Jaiswal. Cleared by the Prime Minister’s Science, Technology and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC), the mission will be implemented by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). It recognises that zoonotic and vector-borne diseases are not just public health threats but also challenges to food security, environment and economic resilience. The first major milestone will be the National One Health Conclave from Nov 20-21 in Delhi, which PM Modi is expected to attend to underline India’s commitment to the ‘One Health’ approach. “‘One Health’ is not a theoretical concept but a public health necessity for India,” said Prof Umesh Kapil, president, Epidemiology Foundation of India. He stressed that collaborative surveillance, evidence-based diagnostics and strong institutional linkages are key to preventing future outbreaks. Officials said the framework also targets antimicrobial resistance (AMR) caused by misuse of antibiotics in humans, animals and agriculture. Coordinated policies involving ICMR, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, National Centre for Disease Control, FSSAI and CPCB will help curb AMR – one of India’s gravest long-term health threats – in line with a national action plan.
