New Delhi: As the rising outbreak of zoonotic diseases, climate-sensitive illnesses heightens the risk of more frequent pandemics, Dr V K Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog said to build a new generation of One Health specialists.
Speaking at the National One Health Mission Assembly 2025, Dr Paul stressed to build a new generation of One Health specialists through joint training programmes and by integrating One Health thinking into educational and research institutions.
Secondly, he added that the outbreak investigation, risk communication and coordinated action must be synchronized across all levels. Ensuring availability of medical countermeasures – vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics – at scale is equally critical for preparedness.
Delivering the inaugural address at the event, JP Nadda, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare and Chairperson, Executive Steering Committee. One Health said, “The National One Health Mission, is most significant steps toward pandemic preparedness and it integrates 16 different Central and State Ministries/Departments spanning human health, animal health, environment, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, defence, earth sciences, space sciences and disaster management.”
Nadda highlighted that, the mission has already implementing key activities, including integrated surveillance across slaughterhouses, bird sanctuaries, zoos and wastewater systems in major cities to monitor antimicrobial resistance and infectious pathogens.
Meanwhile, loint outbreak investigations and the development of medical countermeasures are underway, to further improve the pandemic preparedness architecture.
