Health Ministry Launches National Zoonoses Action Plan and Technical Resources
The Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare organized a National Multistakeholder Consultation on the National Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Zoonoses: A Strategic Framework with One Health Approach in New Delhi on July 6, 2026. The consultation brought together senior representatives from human health, animal health, wildlife, environmental, academic, and development sectors to deliberate on strengthening India's preparedness and response to zoonotic diseases.
Dr. Rakesh Gupta, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, highlighted that zoonotic diseases continue to pose significant public health, animal health, and economic challenges globally and in India. He emphasized the government's commitment to stronger multisectoral coordination, integrated surveillance systems through IHIP 2.0, enhanced laboratory networks, skilled workforce, digital innovations, and evidence-based decision-making. The proposed National Action Plan will provide a comprehensive strategic framework to strengthen governance, surveillance, laboratory systems, preparedness and response, risk communication, research and innovation, monitoring and evaluation, and sustainable financing.
During the inaugural session, officials launched two key technical resources developed under the National One Health Programme for Prevention and Control of Zoonoses: the Learning Resource Package on 10 Priority Zoonotic Diseases and a comprehensive suite of E-Learning Modules. The package covers ten specific diseases: Anthrax, Brucellosis, Kyasanur Forest Disease, Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever, Nipah, Mpox, Rabies, Leptospirosis, Scrub Typhus, and Zika. These resources aim to strengthen the knowledge and competencies of healthcare professionals, veterinarians, public health officials, and other frontline stakeholders engaged in zoonotic disease surveillance, prevention, and control.
The consultation featured thematic technical sessions where experts reviewed draft chapters of the National Action Plan, with extensive deliberations on critical areas including governance and institutional mechanisms, surveillance and early warning systems, laboratory strengthening, prevention and preparedness, outbreak response, research and innovation, risk communication, workforce development, financing, monitoring and evaluation, and implementation strategies. Discussions highlighted the importance of strengthening integrated surveillance through expansion of sentinel surveillance sites, enhancing laboratory networks, promoting timely data sharing through IHIP 2.0, and building capacities of frontline professionals across sectors.
The recommendations from the consultation will be consolidated into the final National Action Plan, which will serve as the national strategic framework for coordinated multisectoral action and provide guidance to States and Union Territories in developing context-specific State Action Plans aligned with One Health principles. The initiative aims to establish a resilient and coordinated framework for preventing, detecting, and responding to zoonotic threats, strengthening national health security and improving preparedness for future public health emergencies.