One Health Approach and India’s Pandemic Preparedness
As Ebola resurges in Central Africa, India's vulnerability to – and preparedness for – zoonotic spillovers demands urgent scrutiny. With diverse ecosystems and rapid urbanisation, India has witnessed major zoonotic outbreaks – Nipah, Kyasanur Forest Disease, H1N1, and COVID-19 – driven by habitat fragmentation, wildlife trafficking, and climate change.
Policy & Institutional Architecture
- The Union Cabinet approved the National One Health Mission in 2024, anchored by the National Institute of One Health and a cross-ministerial task force.
- It encompasses stronger surveillance, early warning systems, and integrated data across human, animal, and environmental health sectors.
What the Mission Has Achieved
- Development of the Model Governance Framework to strengthen One Health governance mechanisms;
- Initiation of genomics and metagenomics-based surveillance networks for improved detection;
- Launch of surveillance initiatives at the human-animal-environment interface including in zoos, bird sanctuaries, and slaughterhouses; and
- Promotion of public awareness and youth engagement through initiatives such as the National One Health Assembly.
Pandemic Preparedness: Critical Gaps
- Weak public health infrastructure
- Shortage of trained healthcare workforce
- Low public health expenditure
- Uneven state capacities
- Poor rural healthcare access
- Urban-rural disparities
- Weak One Health integration
- Misinformation management
Summing Up
India's One Health framework is architecturally sound but operationally uneven. Translating policy intent into district-level readiness - before the next spillover - is the need of the hour.