I was attending a forum a few weeks ago when the “One Health” model became the topic of discussion. The One Health Model became popular in the SARS era of 2003-2004 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2024a). This model has been circulating since the 1800s when scientists noted the cohabitation of diseases and illnesses between humans, animals, and ecosystems (World Health Organization, 2025). An objective of this model is to better understand the influence these three entities have on each other and to use that information to predict trends. These trend predictions can help with disease control such as preparedness, management, and detection (World Health Organization, 2025). The World Health Organization stated that “Since 2003, the world has seen over 25 million human deaths and US$ 4 trillion in economic losses due to diseases and pandemics, as well as immense losses from food and water safety hazards” (World Health Organization, 2023). These statistics show that our environments have a major impact on our health and well-being.
When we think of an environment, usually we think about the place that we are in and our surroundings. One Health approach likes to look at the local, regional, national, and global levels of the environment to analyse the influence that people have on their environment and vice versa (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2024b). It emphasizes the interconnectedness that us humans have with animals and environmental health and the significant need to address all aspects when addressing health challenges. One Health resonates deeply with the notion that human health and well-being are reliant on the health and well-being of the environment that it’s in. Therefore, any harm to the environment will inevitably affect the lives of humans and animals within the area (Whitmee et al., 2015).
This discussion around One Health made me reflect upon our role as physiotherapists in environmentally conscious sustainable healthcare and the holistic approach. As physiotherapists, one of our principal regulations is to do no harm. When we reflect upon One Health in that lens, it shifts our focus to include minimizing the environmental harm we have in our practices. The holistic approach already teaches us to look at the physical, social, spiritual, and psychological well-being of our patients when understanding their pain and conditions. With the integration of the One Health theory, it is vital for us to also consider the environment in this approach.
Erin Keough, CTRS
M.Sc.Kin, M.Sc.A.PT, Justice Centered Rehab
Erin Keough is a disabled Inuk from Newfoundland. Her philosophy is that we are more than the words used to identify us. She takes a person-partnered approach to care and advocates for her clients’ needs. She is an executive member of Justice Centered Rehab, a group dedicated to highlighting and improving injustice and inequities in healthcare.
At first glance, considering the environment in our work would resemble figuring out equitable and accessible healthcare that minimizes environmental harm and reduces wastage. But, in the recent state of our world, it seems that political practices have been reaching further into our practices. The functionality of our societies and how the land that we live on is directly influenced by politics (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, 2023). Ideally, health policies are put into place to create safer and healthier territories for people to live in. However, with the current global health political climate, there is an increase in health inequities (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, 2023). While political practice is still relatively new to the healthcare professions it is important to reflect upon our own positionality and what our roles are to ensure that justice and nonmaleficence are integrated into our practices.
Some ways in which physiotherapists and healthcare workers can start to understand and navigate the interconnectedness of environment, health, and politics include:
Advocacy
We can use our voices and lived experiences to advocate for health policies to advance and enhance our patient’s lives – not hinder them
Allyship
We can connect with allied health professionals to strengthen the bond and resources we have for our patient care
Compassion
Using our compassion to create safe environments when our patients are in our care
Communication
Start the conversation with our patients, our friends, and family. Teach them about how influential the environment is on our health and explain how health politics plays an important role
Taking care of ourselves
To help those around us, we must ensure that we are in a safe place to do so
We have one world. An intricate health system that requires collaboration, communication, and coordination to ensure that there is a positive manner in which everything and everyone lives a healthy life. Our role as healthcare providers is to use the knowledge that we have to help create spaces where our clients can develop and reach their goals. It is our time to use the knowledge that we have to make changes, generate policies, and inspire action towards a better One Health.
References
Header image from https://www.cdc.gov/one-health/about/index.html
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024a). One health history. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024b). About one health. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/one-health/about/one-health-history.html
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. (2023). Health inequality and universal health coverage. https://www.oecd.org/en/topics/policy-issues/health-inequality-and-universal-health-coverage.html
Whitmee, S., Haines, A., Beyrer, C., Boltz, F., Capon, A.G… et al. (2015). Safeguarding human health in the Anthropocene epoch: Report of The Rockefeller Foundation – Lancet Commission on planetary health. Lancet, 386(10007), 1973-2028. https://www.thelancet.com/article/S0140-6736(15)60901-1/fulltext
World Health Organization. (2023). One health. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/one-health
World Health Organization. (2025). One health. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/health-topics/one-health