Steps towards operationalizing One Health approaches

Area of Science:

• Interdisciplinary health sciences
• Environmental health
• Public health policy

Background:

• One Health emphasizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, agriculture, wildlife, and environmental health.
• International organizations endorse One Health, yet its implementation lags behind research applications.
• Bridging the gap between One Health research and practical, governmental action is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify challenges, solutions, and priorities for implementing One Health strategies beyond research settings.
• To understand the needs for operationalizing the One Health agenda through governmental action.
• To gather insights from professionals across diverse One Health sectors and institutional contexts.

Main Methods:

• Conducted 41 semi-structured interviews with professionals in public health, environment, agriculture, and wildlife sectors.
• Focused on individuals involved in national and international One Health applications.
• Analyzed interview data to identify key themes related to implementation barriers and facilitators.

Main Results:

• One Health has successfully motivated stakeholder engagement but lacks practical implementation frameworks.
• Key barriers include insufficient guidance for cross-sectoral policy integration and strategic planning.
• Facilitation requires behavioral change, dedicated personnel, and updated training models for effective One Health adoption.

Conclusions:

• Translating the One Health concept into effective government action necessitates specific guidance and facilitation strategies.
• Future efforts should focus on developing actionable plans and fostering the necessary infrastructure and behavioral shifts for One Health implementation.
• Addressing implementation gaps is critical for realizing the full potential of the One Health approach in safeguarding global health.