Abstract
In Thailand, the “One Health” concept emerged with the goal of strengthening the multidisciplinary
collaborations among all sectors at all levels, subsequently leading to a holistic health by recognizing the
close relationships between human health, animal health and environment health. This study aimed to
compile and understand the evolution of “One Health” in Thailand. The methods included document
review, observation, and in-depth interviews of key informants. The study found that the public health and livestock health sectors have been cooperated for over 20 years in order to prevent and to control
zoonotic diseases. It was later expanded to be a multidisciplinary collaboration to contain the H5N1 Avian
Influenza outbreak in 2004-2006. The “One Health” concept has been adopted as a key component of
national health policy, in particular in the National Strategic Plan for Emerging Infectious Diseases (2013-
2016) in 2012. However, the current recognition of “One Health” is still mainly limited to health related
sectors, with variation in interpretations of the definitions and scope of “One Health” which is based on
organization and/or individual own interest, and lack of a variety of examples for implementation. This
study recommends that “One Health” concept should be promoted to other related non-health sectors
including the general public in order to gain mutual understanding of the concept. In addition, the One
Health concept should be implemented where different agencies work together to achieve its objectives in
a sustainable way.
