India’s One Health Mission Gains Momentum
The second meeting of the Scientific Steering Committee for India’s National One Health Mission took place on April 15, 2025, at Vigyan Bhawan, chaired by Prof. Ajay K. Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India. The meeting brought together key officials from various health and scientific organizations to discuss strategies for enhancing the mission’s impact. Notably, representatives from Gujarat and Kerala showcased their initiatives, emphasizing the importance of state-level participation in the mission’s objectives.
Key Participants and Discussions
The meeting featured prominent figures from India’s health and scientific sectors, including Dr. Rajiv Bahl, Secretary of DHR and DG of ICMR, and Dr. Parvinder Maini, Scientific Secretary at the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser. Other attendees included senior officials from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), and various state health departments. The discussions centered on the implementation of the One Health mission, focusing on how to recalibrate existing initiatives to maximize their effectiveness.
During the meeting, Gujarat and Kerala presented their programmatic initiatives and governance mechanisms. Prof. Sood highlighted the necessity of state participation and encouraged the development of pilot programs that align with the mission’s goals. The committee underscored the need for innovative strategies to implement the One Health approach effectively across different states.
Advisory and Review Committees’ Contributions
A significant highlight of the meeting was the presentation of outcomes from the Advisory and Review (A&R) committees, which are crucial for operationalizing various work streams within the mission. The chairs of four A&R committees provided updates on their preliminary roadmaps. These committees focus on critical areas such as bio-safety laboratory networks, integrated surveillance, research and development of medical countermeasures, and data sharing. They emphasized the importance of adopting a One Health perspective in all interventions to ensure comprehensive and effective responses to health challenges.
The committee members acknowledged the need for collaboration and integration among different sectors to achieve the mission’s objectives. The discussions reinforced the idea that a unified approach is essential for addressing health issues that intersect human, animal, and environmental health.
Funding and Future Initiatives
The meeting also addressed the funding mechanisms for projects under the One Health mission. Key areas of focus include developing surveillance methodologies and R&D countermeasures such as vaccines and diagnostics for diseases of One Health significance. Plans for conducting mock drills related to animal diseases and enhancing state engagement through cross-learning platforms were also discussed.
Prof. Sood emphasized that scaling up the mission’s activities requires ongoing collaboration, innovation, and adaptability from all stakeholders involved. The meeting concluded with the unveiling of a special edition of ‘Vigyan Dhara,’ dedicated to the National One Health Mission, which outlines the vision for this collaborative effort. Additionally, a video showcasing the mission’s goals and diverse stakeholders was released, further solidifying the commitment to a comprehensive One Health approach in India.
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