Intersectoral collaboration in a One Health approach: Lessons learned from a country-level simulation exercise

• DOI: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2023.100649
• Publication Date: 2023-11-07T08:02:56Z
• Authors: Vera Manageiro; Ana Caria; Cristina Furtado; Ana Botelho; Mónica Oleastro; Sandra Cavaco Gon...; Ângela Pista; João Vieira Martins; Lurdes Clemente; Nuno Santos Rodri...; Paula Vasconcelos; Pedro Nabais; Renata Carvalho
• Keywords: Preparedness; Strengths and weaknesses

Intersectoral collaboration is an essential component of the One Health (OH) approach, which recognises interconnectedness health humans, animals, and environment. The OH European Joint Programme (OHEJP) developed a national foodborne outbreak table-top simulation exercise (SimEx) to practice capacity interoperability across public health, animal food safety sectors, improving preparedness for future disease outbreaks. Portuguese OHEJP SimEx highlighted strengths weaknesses regarding roles functions available systems, constraints existing legislation, importance harmonisation data sharing, creation common main messages adapted each target sector. However, there still long way go ensure cooperation among Public Health, Animal Food Safety as approach relies not only on awareness "field experts" but also political organisational willingness commitment.