From Vision to Action: Prioritizing in One Health

Area of Science:

• Integrated biological and social sciences
• Public health policy
• Environmental science

Background:

• The One Health approach integrates human, animal, and environmental health, but faces practical implementation challenges.
• Resource, structural, and situational constraints often necessitate prioritization, which can conflict with the holistic One Health ethos.
• Existing limitations hinder the full realization of One Health strategies in complex health systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose key considerations and strategies for effective prioritization within the One Health framework.
• To address the inherent tension between One Health principles and the necessity of real-world prioritization.
• To guide decision-makers in applying One Health principles despite systemic constraints.

Main Methods:

• Advocating for enhanced cross-sectoral communication and collaborative networks.
• Emphasizing the importance of community engagement to integrate local context into decision-making.
• Highlighting the strategy of 'multisolving' to identify interventions with co-benefits across sectors.

Main Results:

• Proposed strategies focus on fostering proactive, collaborative networks through improved communication.
• Meaningful community engagement is identified as vital for context-informed decision-making.
• Multisolving and adaptive strategies are crucial for addressing immediate needs and long-term goals.

Conclusions:

• Translating One Health ideals into practice requires adaptive thinking and flexibility.
• Prioritization within One Health must be approached strategically to maintain its integrated nature.
• Successful implementation necessitates feasible, politically viable, and socially relevant strategies for a complex global health landscape.