In May 2024, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), the European Environment Agency (EEA), the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) published a joint framework for action to strengthen cooperation to support the implementation of the One Health agenda in the European Union (EU). The One Health concept recognises that human, animal, and environmental health is closely interconnected and interdependent, and by applying the One Health concept, close collaboration can be established across sectors, stakeholders, and countries to develop interdisciplinary programmes, policies, legislation, and research which respond to and prevent planetary crises at the human-environment-animal interface (e.g., AMR, environmental pollution, zoonotic disease). This concept may facilitate innovative, sustainable solutions in the healthcare sector through “up-stream” precautionary mitigation practices (e.g., health promotion, improved medicine selection, use, and disposal) and whole-systems thinking (e.g., cross-sector, multi-agency collaboration with environment sector), which contribute to more sustainable healthcare practices while promoting positive health outcomes.
As a formally recognised “call for action” by the five EU agencies, the implementation of One Health across sectors will support strategic and research coordination, capacity building, stakeholder engagement, and inter-agency activities to facilitate harmonised progress and delivery of One Health solutions in the EU.
Find out more about the One Health framework for action at:
One Health: a joint framework for action published by five EU agencies (europa.eu)