MedicineEconomicsEnvironmental Science
DOI: 10.17236/sat00475

Abstract

INTRODUCTION We propose elements of a political economy of One Health for Switzerland. It is derived from more than 25 years of collaborative research and development with an interdisciplinary research team at the interface between human and veterinary medicine and several other sciences in Africa and Asia. It is based on work on mixed vaccination services for nomads and their animals in Chad and the cross-sectoral economic analysis of brucellosis control in Mongolia. This was later supplemented by conceptual work on human- environment systems and a new game-theoretical approach to One Health. We refer to the new definition of One Health by the One Health High Level Expert Panel (OHHLEP), the European Union's advisory body on the implementation (operationalization) of One Health, and new integrated surveillance and response systems for humans, animals, and the environment in Ethiopia. A political economy of One Health emerges inductively from the above-mentioned research and consists of core elements of governance, economic guidelines, and principles of implementation. One Health governance works participatively with consultative processes that involve social actors. It is cross-sectoral and involves human and veterinary medicine, agriculture, the environment, and other areas in finding solutions. A key element is cooperation at all levels of society, from village communities to cantons, the national government, and international bodies. A One Health approach should be economically profitable while preserving natural resources. It should benefit all population groups, animals, and the environment equally. Existing policies can be adapted for implementation and do not necessarily have to be developed from scratch. It is important to clarify the respective responsibilities and then divide up the cooperation accordingly. The political economy of One Health thus has great potential to contribute to solving major pressing problems such as climate change, species loss, increasing antibiotic resistance, and the prevention of pandemics.

Citation format

ZINSSTAG, J. [Elemente einer politischen ökonomie von one health mit einem bezug zur schweiz]. SCHWEIZER ARCHIV FUR TIERHEILKUNDE, 2026, 168 5(5): 53–62.