**Executive Summary**
The National Institute of One Health (NIOH) organized a two-day national workshop in Nagpur on March 18, 2026, to operationalize the National One Health Mission (NOHM). The event aimed to translate the national vision into actionable strategies for state and local implementation, focusing on pandemic preparedness and national health security. Key objectives included establishing integrated surveillance systems and strengthening inter-sectoral coordination to tackle zoonotic diseases.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Strategic Vision and Framework**
* The workshop serves as a platform to transition the National One Health Mission (NOHM) from a conceptual vision into actionable state and local strategies.
* "One Health" is identified as the core foundation for national health security and future pandemic readiness.
* A "whole-of-government" approach is emphasized to manage the complex health interface created by ecological diversity and human-animal interactions.
**Integrated Surveillance and Data Interoperability**
* There is an urgent requirement to move beyond parallel monitoring systems toward integrated surveillance.
* Systems for human health surveillance, veterinary disease reporting, wildlife monitoring, and environmental intelligence must become interoperable.
* Seamless data flow across various departments is critical to ensure early warning signs of potential health threats.
**Operational Focus Areas**
* **Zoonotic Diseases:** Addressing the landscape of spillover risks and managing zoonotic threats through coordinated scientific efforts.
* **Response Mechanisms:** A primary focus is the establishment and strengthening of outbreak response teams at both state and district levels.
* **Biothreats and Countermeasures:** The framework includes preparedness for biothreats and the development of medical countermeasures.
* **Wildlife Investigations:** Dedicated sessions focused on investigating outbreaks specifically related to wildlife.
**Impact Analysis**
**State and District Administrations**
**Impact:** These entities are identified as the primary implementers of the NOHM framework at the local level.
**Action Required:** They must establish dedicated outbreak response teams and align local governance with national One Health policies to ensure structured implementation.
**Scientific and Technical Institutions (e.g., NIOH, ICMR, NCDC)**
**Impact:** These institutions act as the essential pillars for national health security through research and technical coordination.
**Action Required:** They are required to collaborate on developing medical countermeasures and conducting investigations into zoonotic and wildlife-related outbreaks.
**Veterinary and Environmental Departments**
**Impact:** These sectors are critical contributors to the integrated surveillance model, providing data on animal health and environmental intelligence.
**Action Required:** These departments must transition from parallel reporting systems to interoperable platforms to allow for cross-departmental data sharing.
Key Entities Referenced
National One Health Mission (NOHM): The national framework aimed at coordinating human, animal, and environmental health strategies to tackle zoonotic threats and ensure pandemic preparedness.
National Institute of One Health (NIOH), Nagpur: The primary organizing institute under the Department of Health Research responsible for operationalizing One Health strategies at the state and local levels.
Department of Health Research (DHR): The government department under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare that oversees the implementation of the One Health operational frameworks.
Prof. Ajay Sood: The Principal Scientific Advisor (PSA) to the Government of India who leads the national vision for integrated surveillance and health security.
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR): A key collaborating research and regulatory body involved in strengthening medical countermeasures and inter-sectoral coordination for zoonotic diseases.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
National Workshop on ‘Operational Frameworks
for One Health: National Vision and State Action’
Held in Nagpur
One Health is key to national health security and pandemic
preparedness: Principal Scientific Advisor Prof. Ajay Sood
Coordinated approach essential for tackling zoonotic
diseases: Secretary DHR and DG ICMR Dr. Rajiv Bahl
Posted On: 18 MAR 2026 5:56PM by PIB Mumbai
Nagpur, 18 March 2026
National Institute of One Health (NIOH), Nagpur, under the Department of Health
Research (DHR), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, in collaboration with the
ICMR-RMRC, Bhubaneswar recently organized a two-day national workshop themed
“Operational Frameworks for One Health: National vision and state action”. The
workshop aimed to translate the vision of the National One Health Mission (NOHM)
into actionable strategies, enabling coordinated implementation at the state and
local levels.
The inaugural session of the workshop featured the virtual keynote address by Prof.
Ajay Sood, Principal Scientific Advisor (PSA) to the Government of India. Dr. Rajiv
Bahl, Secretary, Government of India, Department of Health Research and Director
General, Indian Council of Medical Research virtually delivered the special addresson this occasion. Dr. Naveena. B. Maheswarappa, Animal Husbandry Commissioner,
DAHD, New Delhi addressed the gathering virtually. Prominent dignitaries that
graced the inaugural session included Dr. Niteen Patil, Vice Chancellor, MAFSU
Nagpur (Chief Guest), Dr. Prashant P. Joshi, Executive Director AIIMS, Nagpur
(Guest of Honour), Dr. Ranjan Das, Director, NCDC, New Delhi (Guest of Honour),
Dr. Deepak Mhaiskar (I.A.S), Chairman, SEIAA, Maharashtra, and Dr. Satish Raju,
Regional Joint Commissioner of Animal Husbandry Dairying, Nagpur and Dr. Pragya
Yadav, Director In-charge, NIOH, Nagpur.
Delivering his Keynote Address virtually, Prof. Ajay Sood emphasized the urgency of
integrated surveillance. He stated,“One Health is not just a concept, but the
foundation of our national health security and future pandemic preparedness.
Maharashtra has the capacity to become a model for structured One Health
implementation, demonstrating how policy, science, and governance can align
effectively. Human health surveillance, veterinary disease reporting, wildlife
monitoring, and environmental intelligence must move beyond parallel systems and
become interoperable to ensure early warning which depends on seamless data flow
across departments.”
Speaking virtually on the occasion, Dr. Rajiv Bahl highlighted the Mission's
architecture and the importance of inter-sectoral coordination in pandemic
readiness. He remarked,“The National One Health Mission exemplifies a whole-of-
government approach in tackling zoonotic threats and strengthening medical
countermeasures. Our ecological diversity and close human-animal interactions
create complex health interfaces where new threats can emerge. Strengthening our
ability to manage these risks through the coordination of scientific institutions,government departments, and technical partners is an essential pillar of national
health security.” He further stressed the need for state and district level outbreak
response teams.
The two-day workshop explored the complex landscape of zoonotic diseases and
spillover risks. The first day featured technical sessions and panel discussions
focused on operationalizing the One Health approach. The second day centered on
biothreat preparedness, the development of medical countermeasures, and
investigations into wildlife-related outbreaks.
PIB Nagpur| Saurabh Khekde/ Priti Malandkar
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