Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare & Chemicals and Fertilizers, Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda chaired the Second Meeting of the Executive Steering Committee of the National One Health Mission (NOHM), here today.

Stressing upon the role of NOHM in recognizing the interconnectedness of human, animal, plant and environmental health, the Union Health Minister said that it is only by working together that we can anticipate, prevent, and respond to future threats. He also emphasized that the coordinated efforts of different Departments through NOHM are turning vision into real outcomes. He called upon participants to further strengthen this collaboration and support State functionaries in the implementation of NOHM initiatives.   

Shri Nadda appreciated the progress made in SOPs, roadmaps and pathways for One Health Mission and suggested to strengthen the structures for implementation. Stressing that futuristic, anticipatory thought process is crucial to the success of the Mission, the Union Minister welcomed suggestions emerging from the deliberations of the Meeting.

Earlier, opening the session, Prof. Ajay Sood, Principal Scientific Advisor (PSA) to the Government of India, emphasized that the mission’s primary objective is to enhance pandemic preparedness and strengthen integrated disease surveillance and control mechanisms across human, animal, and plant health systems. He also stressed the importance of state-level engagement and local ownership to ensure timely detection and response to disease outbreaks.

Articulating the Vision for Future of National One Health Mission, Prof. V. K. Paul, Member, NITI Aayog, appealed all participants to identify, share and work upon the gaps in integrated disease management.  He also advised to focus upon wildlife surveillance, generic wastewater surveillance and new approaches to tackle the emerging challenges of biosecurity.

Dr. Rajiv Bahl, Secretary, Department of Health Research (DHR) and Director General, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) provided updates on the progress since the first steering committee meeting in July 2024. Notable developments include strengthening the national network of BSL-3 laboratories; Vishanu Yudh Abhyas- a mock drill conducted in August 2024 and Syndromic surveillance projects undertaken through interdepartmental collaborations.

Dr. Tanmay Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) briefed the participants about various initiatives undertaken by MoEFCC through One Health approach. Presentations from Department of Health & Family Welfare (DoHFW) and Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) highlighted how inter-sectoral coordination into human and animal health sectors is translating policy into tangible outcomes on the ground.

Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, National One Health Mission has emerged as a transformative cross-sectoral initiative, placing India at the forefront of global health security. The Mission has made significant strides in integrating human, animal and environmental health systems ensuring preparedness against emerging health threats and fostering sustainable development. A total of 16 different Ministries / Departments has joined this collaborative effort and are coordinating with Department of Health Research (DHR) which is acting as the nodal Department for the Mission.

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RT

HFW- HFM Review of NOHM/26Sept2025/3

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