Table 4 Key sectoral policies affecting zoonoses management in India
Policy | Sector | Key focus |
|---|---|---|
National Health Policy (2017) | Human Health | Seeks to stimulate innovation to meet health needs but silent on tackling zoonoses and no clear guidelines on cross-sectoral action. |
Draft National Pharmaceutical Policy (2017) | Human Health | States that one of its key objectives is to create an enabling environment for R&D to produce innovator drugs, but silent on drugs or vaccines for zoonotic diseases. Policy yet to be operationalised. |
National Policy on Treatment of Rare Diseases (2018) | Human Health | Underscores the importance of cross-sectoral approach to tackle rare diseases (including infectious diseases) but has not prioritised diseases and areas for research or how innovation will be supported. |
National Vaccine Policy (2011) | Human Health | Focuses on strengthening R&D for the development of new vaccines to eradicate morbidity and mortality due to vaccine preventable diseases but does not mention vaccines for zoonotic diseases. |
National Livestock Policy (2013) | Animal Health | States that one of its key objectives is to strengthen overall animal health through cross-sectoral action on prevention, control and eradication of various disease conditions (including zoonoses) but fails to spell out how this would be achieved. |
Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (2013) | Human Health/ Animal Health | Underscores the need for multi-sectoral collaboration in India’s R&D system (including health and drug discovery) but does not spell out the specific contours of each sector and roles or how innovation will contribute to improved diagnostics and surveillance critical for prevention and control of zoonoses. |
National Wildlife Action Plan (2017–2031) | Environment Health | Includes wildlife health as one of its thematic areas of focus and seeks build capacity of veterinarians of the State Animal Husbandry Department in forest bearing districts to tackle zoonoses but lacks clarity on how key actions will be operationalised. It also fails to outline how cross-sectoral coordination will be strengthened which is a key missing link in the plan. |