The approaching pilot for One Health governance index

Abstract

Background: One Health approach advocates realizing the best health and harmonious symbiosis of human, animal and natural environment through cross-border, multi-sectoral and interdisciplinary cooperation. The good governance model is the leading factor for the performance of One Health governance. In order to tackle the complex problems in the One Health governance at the global level, the variation of One Health governance in different countries was analyzed by a set of indicators within the One Health system.

Method: The capacity of One Health governance was assessed after establishment of a set of indicators for the One Health governance index (OHGI) following the methodology of the global One Health index. The data to calculate OHGI was collected from various database sources, including the Food and Agriculture Organization, the World Health Organization, the World Organization for Animal Health, and official health-related institutions of various countries. Eight indicators (including 19 sub-indicators) were employed in the OHGI system to comprehensively evaluate the capacity of One Health governance in 146 countries of the world.

Results: Among the 146 countries scored in the OHGI system, the average score was 34.11, with a median score of 31.49, ranged from 8.50 to 70.28. Most countries with higher OHGI scores come from Europe and Central Asia, East Asia and the Pacific and North America, while countries with the lower OHGI scores are almost from sub-Saharan Africa. Six countries scored more than 65 points, including Australia, Sweden, Germany, Netherlands, the United States of America and Finland, indicating that these countries are relatively mature in most aspects of One Health governance. However, there were some developing countries with OHGI scored lower than 15. Therefore, the gap between countries with higher OHGI scores and those with lower OHGI scores is more than 60.

Conclusions: Good governance on One Health is an important indicator to measure One Health's governance capacity. The political stability, the level of rule of law and economic conditions in different regions are significantly correlated with the One Health governance capacity. Actions need to be taken urgently to close the gap of One Health governance between different regions.

Keywords: Developed countries; Developing countries; Governance; One Health; Rule of law.

Fig. 1

The OHGI indicators system (8 indicators and 19 sub-indicators). OHGI: One Health governance index

Fig. 2

The mean score distribution of OHGI in 19 sub-indicators [GC global connectivity (44.10), RC risk communication (57.39), OHA One Health association (22.60), OHF One Health forums (41.78), GROL general rule of law (56.85), OHL One Health specialized law (13.70), TSP transparency (66.81), ERO emergency response operation (28.75), ERP exercising response plans (7.36), CO consensus oriented (28.08), OHE One Health education (66.44), ZDG zoonotic disease governance (30.28), PAR protected areas representativeness (30.45), SNM sustainable nitrogen management (76.16), GE government effectiveness (43.37), OHD One Health official department (65.75), CC control of corruption (50.29), RQ regular quality (51.99), GS government spending (34.92)], OHGI One Health governance index

Fig. 3

Median scores of OHGI at regional level [Northern America (60.16), Europe and Central Asia (40.78), East Asia and Pacific (36.16), Latin America and The Caribbean (33.60), South Asia (30.99), Middle East and North Africa (30.31) and Sub-Saharan Africa (24.27)], OHGI One Health governance index

Fig. 4

Global OHGI scores at county level [Top 20 countries with their OHGI scores are as follows: Australia (70.28), Sweden (69.75), Germany (69.48), the Netherlands (68.26), the United States of America (67.69), Finland (67.24), France (64.28), Australia (61.77), Spain (60.97), Belgium (59.88), Brazil (58.05), Thailand (56.00), United Kingdom (54.38), Norway (54.33), Switzerland (54.31), Cyprus (54.22), New Zealand (54.2), China (53.04), Canada (54.63) and Denmark (52.63)], OHGI One Health governance index

Fig. 5

Comparison of eight indicators of the OHGI scores among top three countries including Australia, Sweden and Germany. OHGI One Health governance index

Fig. 6

Comparison of eight indicators of OHGI scores among five BRICS countries including China, India, Russia, Brazil and South Africa. OHGI One Health governance index, BRICS Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa