December 01, 2024
Overview:
The One Health approach is an integrated, unifying approach that aims to sustainably balance and optimize the health of people, animals, and ecosystems by encouraging collaboration across different sectors. It is widely seen as a practical way to tackle and control zoonotic diseases. However, in low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs), including India, it is often difficult to put this approach into practice due to challenges such as competing priorities and interests of different groups, and the political and administrative environment. This One Health Trust co-authored article highlights the role of local politics, institutions, and social factors in influencing collaborations to prevent and control zoonotic diseases in LMICs.
The Question:
How do local political, institutional, and socio–economic factors shape cross-sectoral collaborations for the prevention and control of zoonotic diseases in LMICs?
The Findings:
Combining a qualitative network analysis of existing research on One Health stakeholders with 26 interviews with policymakers, disease managers, and public health experts at national, state, and district levels in India, the researchers found that local political and institutional factors play a major role in whether collaborations happen or not. While some collaborations succeed, they are often influenced by mistrust, competing priorities, and bureaucracy. In some cases, leaders use political pressure to encourage collaboration, even using tactics to get others on board. The research suggests that for collaborations to work, the interests of individuals and institutions must align. Understanding these factors is key to making long-lasting partnerships in local contexts.
Read the article in One Health Outlook here.
