Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The High-Level One Health Panel, a central feature of the 31st Regional Conference of the Regional Commission for Europe of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), concluded with a resounding call for enhanced cross-sectoral collaboration to address health challenges at the intersection of human, animal, and environmental health. Ministers, international organizations, and regional stakeholders gathered to set a strategic direction for implementing the One Health approach across Europe, tackling pressing issues such as zoonotic diseases, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and climate action.

This panel, organized under the leadership of WOAH, is part of a broader global and regional initiative to advance the One Health Joint Plan of Action—a framework developed to unite efforts across health, agriculture, and environmental sectors. With zoonotic disease outbreaks, AMR, and environmental crises increasingly threatening global health security, the One Health approach has emerged as a critical solution for ensuring preparedness, pandemic prevention, and sustainable development.

The panel discussions emphasized the importance of understanding and implementing the six key tracks of the One Health Joint Plan of Action. Ministers and delegates from 53 European countries exchanged insights on sustainable agriculture, public and animal health, and the pivotal role of veterinary services in protecting health. Regional and cross-border cooperation was highlighted as essential, with the panel encouraging follow-up mechanisms and commitments to ensure continued progress.

Throughout the session, speakers underscored the critical role of veterinary services in the broader One Health framework. Veterinary professionals are essential to preventing, monitoring, and responding to health threats at the human-animal-environment interface. The outcomes of this panel will further strengthen global efforts to implement One Health solutions, in collaboration with FAO, WHO, UNEP, and WOAH, fostering a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to advance the One Health agenda across Europe and beyond. “The FAO Regional Conference and the European Commission on Agriculture have, over the past four years, invoked the One Health approach, addressing issues from animal health and transboundary diseases to food safety and plant protection. By leveraging FAO’s strong country presence, we can instill the One Health approach in national projects and programs that strengthen emergency management and multi-sectoral capacities. An example of this is the Global Health Security project in Uzbekistan, aimed at bolstering animal health, One Health, and AMR capacities to prevent and mitigate zoonotic threats. By setting long-term targets for pandemic prevention, building trust with governments, and partnering with farmers, veterinarians, and civil society, we are driving real change”- said Mr. Nabil Gangi, Deputy Regional Representative of FAO for Europe and Central Asia emphasizing the importance of sustained collaboration.

As part of the events, Mr. Nabil Gangi and the Chairman of the State Committee on Veterinary and Livestock Development held a bilateral meeting to further strengthen coordination and explore opportunities for deeper collaboration on veterinary and One Health initiatives.

The panel concluded with a series of action commitments, including enhancing cross-sectoral dialogue, strengthening the Regional One Health Coordination Mechanism for Europe (ROHCM), and aligning national strategies with regional and global One Health policies. Participants also discussed frameworks for resource allocation, monitoring, and reporting on One Health initiatives to ensure accountability.

The discussions built on the outcomes of the recent One Health Seminar in Vienna, where veterinary, public health, food safety, and environmental sectors came together to address complex challenges at the human-animal-environment interface. The One Health Panel in Samarkand continues this effort to align strategies, leveraging best practices and shared experiences to enhance regional health security.

The Сonference proceeds until October 4.