New Delhi, Feb. 14 -- In the heart of South Asia, where dense populations coexist with rich biodiversity, the One Health approach should have been a natural solution to the region's complex health challenges. Yet, instead of embracing a truly interconnected model, the region remains trapped in an outdated anthropocentric mindset, where human health takes precedence, while animal and environmental health are treated as mere accessories. This skewed approach does not just weaken our ability to prevent the next pandemic; it also accelerates ecological collapse and deepens the divide between humans and nature.

At its core, One Health is meant to be an equal partnership between human, animal, and environmental health. However, in South Asia, ...