Opportunities and challenges of the One Health approach

The goal of the “One Health” (OH) concept is to use an interdisciplinary approach for solving health problems. It is based on the evidence that the health and wellbeing of people, animals, plants and the environment are connected and ultimately linked to the state of the entire planet. Synonymous terms such as “eco-health” are used to describe this approach. A range of disciplines are directly relevant to the development of OH solutions. Included are natural sciences such as medicine, microbiology and climate sciences as well as social sciences like economics, behavior sciences and psychology. To productively collaborate across disciplines is both the strength as well as the key challenge of the operationalization of OH. OH is strategically applied in a range of specific problem areas. A prominent example is the global fight against antibiotic resistance (AMR) where a OH approach is promoted across all relevant international organizations [1].

Accordingly, many governments have translated these international recommendations into their country strategies to fight AMR.

Switzerland, for example, has developed the StAR strategy [2], where specific interventions are envisaged for all sectors, including human and veterinary medicine, agriculture and the environment. Strategic measures include the general promotion of animal and public health, preventive measures and the research into alternatives to antimicrobial use, including the use of plant-based therapies.

• References

• 1 Getahun H, Balkhy H. Global governance to tackle antimicrobial resistance: The way forward. WHO; Geneva: 2018
• 2 Swiss strategy on antibiotic resistance (StAR), 2015. Federal Office for Public Health www.star.admin.ch

Publication History

Article published online:
13 December 2021