OneHealthDebatte

OneHealthDebatte refers to the ongoing discussion around the One Health concept, which argues that human, animal, and environmental health are interconnected. The term is commonly used in German-speaking policy and academic contexts to frame interdisciplinary work on zoonotic diseases, antimicrobial resistance, food safety, and ecosystem health.

Origin and scope: The concept emerged in the late 20th century from veterinary and medical disciplines and gained global traction after serious outbreaks. It promotes joint surveillance, shared risk assessment, and coordinated policy across sectors, including public health, veterinary services, environmental protection, and agriculture.

Key themes: integrated data sharing, cross-sector collaboration, prevention over reaction, and resilience against emerging threats. It emphasizes ecosystems and biodiversity as determinants of health and considers climate change, deforestation, and wildlife trade as drivers of risk.

Policy debates: Proponents argue that One Health improves early warning and efficiency; critics warn of vague definitions, mission creep, and governance complexity. Challenges include funding alignment, legal frameworks, data privacy, and balancing national interests with global cooperation.

Actors and implementations: International bodies (WHO, FAO, OIE), governments, universities, and NGOs promote One Health programs, joint surveillance systems, and education. Case studies include antimicrobial resistance strategies and integrated zoonotic disease surveillance.

Outlook: The OneHealthDebatte continues to shape research funding, public health strategy, and environmental policy, with an emphasis on actionable, measurable, and scalable solutions across borders and disciplines.