The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) held the 4th Public Health Summit on October 26, 2023, in line with Prime Minister Modi's National One Health Mission.

CII recently released a visionary report on One Health, "The One Health Paradigm: Fostering Health for a Sustainable Future," featuring prominent figures like Dr. V K Paul from NITI Aayog, Roli Singh from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Hari Menon from CII Public Health Council, and Sourav Roy from Tata Steel. The report highlights the One Health approach's importance in fostering sustainable health.

Dr. Paul, a member of NITI Aayog, highlighted the importance of collective action in achieving the One Health mission's goals. He outlined four pillars: Prevention, Pandemic Preparedness, Integrated Surveillance, and Collaborative Responses. He stressed the need for targeted research, data sharing, and streamlined regulatory processes for swift pandemic responses. He also emphasized the need for partnerships with state governments, academia, the private sector, civil society, and pharmaceutical companies.

Roli Singh discussed the imperative to efficiently structure the public health system and respond to public health challenges proactively. She emphasized the need for a multidisciplinary approach that combines climate action, public health initiatives, and equitable access to healthcare. Singh highlighted that fortifying the healthcare system requires a cooperative endeavor that encompasses state-level implementation and addresses various challenges like food safety regulations, supply chain management, and animal husbandry.

Menon elucidated that One Health serves as an overarching framework that optimizes the well-being of humans, animals, plants, and the environment. Its primary focus is on mobilizing resources across a myriad of sectors, disciplines, and communities to collectively address fundamental necessities like food security, clean water, sustainable energy, and climate action. He further emphasized that isolated efforts can only bring about incremental changes, whereas intersectoral collaboration is the key to realizing the full potential of One Health. The involvement of 13 departments in the One Health mission serves as a groundbreaking example, both in India and globally.

Dr. Abhijit Mitra, the Animal Husbandry Commissioner at the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, highlighted the historical connection between pandemics and animals, emphasizing the importance of One Health.

Roy emphasized the essence of the One Health movement as a unifying framework that harmonizes various dimensions. He underscored the need to move beyond conventional approaches and expand horizons through principles of collaboration and substantial investments.