Strengthening One Health through Health Management: Lessons and Opportunities

BACKGROUND: The One Health approach recognises the interconnection between human, animal, and environmental health, and emphasises collaboration and integration across these domains. While the “One Health” approach is increasingly being implemented in the health sector, the role of health management is still overlooked. OBJECTIVES/METHODS: Health management plays a critical role in facilitating the adoption and implementation of the One Health approach. In fact, health management provides the framework for planning, implementing, and evaluating One Health interventions, including the identification of priorities, resources allocation, and monitoring and evaluation of outcomes. Health managers also play a critical role in developing cross-sectoral partnerships. Through a literature review and focus group discussions with experts from the health, animal, and environmental sector, case studies and best practices were collected on the role and opportunities for health management to further strengthen the One Health approach. RESULTS: Results suggest that greater emphasis should be placed on incorporating the One Health approach into health management education curricula, building capacity for health management through life-long learning, strengthening interdisciplinary collaborations, and establishing effective communication channels to exchange best practices. LESSONS: Recognising the role of health management and fostering multi-stakeholder collaboration will create the proper conditions for the successful implementation of the One Health approach and will help create long-term, sustainable solutions. KEY MESSAGE: • Health management plays a critical role in facilitating the adoption and implementation of the One Health approach and developing cross-sectoral partnerships. • The role of health management can be strengthened through life-long learning, interdisciplinary collaboration and integrating the One Health approach into education curricula.