National One Health Mission

The National One Health Mission is a comprehensive initiative launched by the Government of India to promote an integrated approach to human, animal, and environmental health management. It is built upon the global “One Health” concept, which recognises that the health of humans is closely linked to the health of animals and their shared environment. The mission aims to strengthen the country’s ability to prevent, detect, and respond to zoonotic diseases, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and emerging public health threats through multisectoral coordination and scientific collaboration.

Background and Concept

The One Health approach originated from the understanding that about 60% of known infectious diseases and up to 75% of emerging diseases in humans are zoonotic in nature—that is, they originate in animals before spreading to humans. The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the urgent need for a unified, cross-sectoral framework to manage health risks arising from interactions between people, animals, and ecosystems.
India, being one of the world’s most biodiverse countries with dense human and livestock populations, faces frequent outbreaks of zoonotic infections such as avian influenza, Nipah virus, rabies, brucellosis, and leptospirosis. The National One Health Mission was conceptualised as a whole-of-government initiative to address these challenges by bringing together different ministries, scientific institutions, and sectors under one coordinated platform.

Vision and Objectives

The vision of the National One Health Mission is to achieve integrated and sustainable health management for humans, animals, plants, and the environment, contributing to national and global health security.
Its key objectives include:

• Establishing a national framework for the coordinated surveillance, prevention, and control of zoonotic diseases.
• Promoting collaborative research across human, veterinary, and environmental sciences.
• Strengthening early warning systems for disease outbreaks using real-time data and digital platforms.
• Enhancing laboratory capacity and biosafety standards at regional and national levels.
• Addressing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) through rational use of antibiotics in human and animal health.
• Integrating wildlife and ecosystem health into disease surveillance systems.
• Building capacity and training for professionals in public health, veterinary medicine, and environmental sciences.

Institutional Framework and Coordination

The National One Health Mission operates as a multi-ministerial and multi-sectoral programme led by the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India. It involves collaboration between several key ministries and agencies, including:

• Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) – responsible for human health surveillance and disease control.
• Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) – focusing on animal health, veterinary services, and livestock disease management.
• Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) – overseeing wildlife health, biodiversity conservation, and environmental monitoring.
• Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) – driving scientific research, diagnostics, and capacity building.
• National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) – providing epidemiological expertise and integrated data management.

The mission is structured around a hub-and-spoke model, with a National One Health Institute serving as the central hub coordinating with regional and state-level One Health units. These units integrate data from hospitals, veterinary clinics, and environmental monitoring systems to develop early warning and response mechanisms.

Components of the Mission

The National One Health Mission comprises several interlinked components designed to function synergistically:

1. Surveillance and Monitoring:
   • Development of a national digital platform for integrated disease surveillance across humans, livestock, and wildlife.
   • Establishment of One Health laboratories equipped for zoonotic disease testing and genetic sequencing.
   • Use of satellite data and artificial intelligence for environmental risk mapping and disease forecasting.
2. Research and Innovation:
   • Promotion of interdisciplinary research on emerging pathogens, zoonoses, and AMR.
   • Development of vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics for priority zoonotic diseases.
   • Collaboration with global networks and institutions such as the WHO, FAO, and OIE (now WOAH).
3. Capacity Building and Training:
   • Establishment of training modules for medical, veterinary, and environmental professionals.
   • Inclusion of One Health principles in university curricula and professional courses.
   • Support for field epidemiology training programmes to strengthen workforce readiness.
4. Policy and Governance:
   • Development of national standards and guidelines for One Health practices.
   • Formulation of integrated response plans for disease outbreaks.
   • Strengthening legislation related to biosecurity, wildlife trade, and antimicrobial use.
5. Community Engagement and Communication:
   • Involving communities in awareness programmes about zoonoses and hygiene.
   • Promoting behavioural change for safe animal handling, waste disposal, and antibiotic use.
   • Encouraging public participation in disease reporting and preventive healthcare.

Importance and Relevance

The National One Health Mission holds immense significance for India due to its dual challenges of rapid urbanisation and high dependence on agriculture and livestock. The close interface between humans and animals in rural and peri-urban areas increases the likelihood of disease transmission.
Moreover, climate change and habitat loss are altering the distribution of vectors and pathogens, contributing to new patterns of disease emergence. By promoting cross-sectoral coordination and scientific integration, the mission aims to reduce these risks and build a resilient health system.
The initiative also supports India’s commitments to global frameworks such as:

• Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA)
• World Health Organization’s One Health Global Plan
• Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 3 and SDG 15), which focus on good health, well-being, and ecosystem protection.

Expected Outcomes

Through its implementation, the mission seeks to achieve the following outcomes:

• Early detection and effective containment of zoonotic outbreaks.
• Strengthened national capacity for disease surveillance and data integration.
• Reduced burden of zoonotic infections and antimicrobial resistance.
• Improved coordination between human health, veterinary, and environmental sectors.
• Development of a sustainable and evidence-based health governance model.

Challenges and Way Forward

Despite its ambitious framework, the mission faces several operational and structural challenges:

• Inter-ministerial coordination may require stronger legal and administrative mechanisms.
• Data integration from diverse sources demands advanced digital infrastructure and data-sharing protocols.
• Resource allocation for research and laboratory capacity must be sustained over the long term.
• Community-level implementation in rural areas may be hindered by limited awareness and healthcare access.

To overcome these challenges, the mission emphasises building local partnerships, improving health literacy, and ensuring equitable participation across sectors. Enhanced collaboration between government, academia, and private industry is also crucial to accelerate innovation and achieve scalability.

Significance for the Future

The National One Health Mission represents a paradigm shift in India’s public health strategy. It moves beyond a siloed, sector-specific approach to one that is integrated, preventive, and holistic. As zoonotic diseases and environmental pressures continue to increase globally, this mission positions India as a regional leader in One Health governance and innovation.