The two-day National One Health Mission Assembly 2025 concluded successfully at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, marking a significant milestone in India’s effort to build an integrated and resilient One Health ecosystem. The event brought together senior officials, scientific experts, development partners, and representatives from state governments to advance collaborative preparedness across human, animal, and environmental health sectors.
Advancing Integrated Action for a Resilient Future
Building on the momentum of Day 1, which focused on reinforcing inter-ministerial coordination and whole-of-government action, the Assembly’s concluding day emphasised operational collaboration, scientific innovation, and community engagement. Through a series of technical sessions, participants discussed new approaches to preparedness, response mechanisms, and integrated surveillance systems that will shape India’s One Health roadmap.
Leading the deliberations, Dr V.K. Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog, underscored that “India’s progress in One Health relies on a strong whole-of-government approach that advances a healthier and more resilient future.” He highlighted that community participation remains central to this vision, drawing on India’s COVID-19 experience as proof of the nation’s capacity for community-led mobilisation. Dr Paul further stressed the role of media and law enforcement as critical partners in building trust, combating misinformation, and enabling swift national responses during health emergencies.
He further observed that “One Health preparedness must extend to the grassroots, where frontline workers, local governments, and communities form the first line of defence.” His remarks set the tone for an outcome-oriented discussion anchored in national readiness and social inclusion.
Multisectoral Leadership and Science-Driven Collaboration
Dr Rajiv Bahl, Secretary, Department of Health Research and Director-General, ICMR, emphasised the need for a seamless integration of science, technology, and development. “The goal is not only to build diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines for future outbreaks but to do so with speed,” he stated. Dr Bahl credited the National One Health Mission for catalysing cross-sectoral collaboration and driving a more agile and responsive health ecosystem capable of managing both current and emerging threats.
Dr Rajesh S. Gokhale, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology, reflected on lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that “the triad of intelligence—biological, artificial, and natural—will redefine all future technologies.” He highlighted how the convergence of these domains will accelerate innovation, positioning India at the forefront of global biosciences and One Health research.
International experts, including Mr Scott Newman of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and senior officials such as Smt. Vandana Jain, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, also took part in the discussions. They reinforced the necessity of multisectoral and global partnerships to build resilience, especially in the face of transboundary health challenges.
Strengthening Preparedness and Capacity Building
Sessions on medical countermeasures, led by experts from DRDO, ICAR, THSTI, CEPI, FIND, the International Vaccine Institute, and other agencies, highlighted the importance of accelerating the development of vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics to address future zoonotic and pandemic threats. Participants called for agile research platforms, strengthened regulatory frameworks for emergency authorisations, and expanded collaborations between academia, industry, and government.
Capacity-building discussions identified skilled human resources and community empowerment as cornerstones of One Health readiness. Institutions shared best practices for developing multi-tiered training systems, integrating One Health into higher education curricula, and fostering local partnerships that ensure sustainability and trust at the community level.
Showcasing Innovation: Exhibition and One Health Hackathon
A major highlight of the Assembly was the One Health exhibition, which featured participating institutions demonstrating innovations in surveillance networks, biosafety infrastructure, digital health platforms, and inter-sectoral research models. The showcase reflected India’s advancing technological and scientific capacity in implementing the One Health approach nationwide.
The event also hosted the felicitation ceremony of the National One Health Hackathon, a youth-focused innovation challenge that invited multidisciplinary student teams to present technology-driven, community-focused solutions. The hackathon celebrated India’s growing pool of innovators committed to driving One Health transformation through practical, scalable ideas.
Towards a Health-Secure and Viksit Bharat
In closing, participants agreed that the One Health Mission has become a cornerstone of India’s journey towards a Viksit Bharat—a vision of an advanced and self-reliant nation rooted in sustainability, inclusiveness, and resilience. The Assembly ended with a shared commitment to continue fostering coordinated action across ministries, scientific institutions, and local communities.
Through its integrated approach combining policy, science, and community engagement, the National One Health Mission is positioning India as a global leader in collective preparedness, enabling a healthier, safer, and more sustainable future.
For more real-time updates, visit Channel 6 Network.
Source: PIB
