The Ministry of Health (MoH), in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MoAL) and key One Health stakeholders, successfully hosted the 5th National One Health Symposium in Tsirang from February 24-26, 2025. This landmark event brought together over 130 experts, policymakers, researchers, and practitioners from diverse sectors, including MoH, MoAL, Khesar Gyalpo University of Medical Sciences of Bhutan (KGUMSB), Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources (MoENR), College of Natural Resources (RUB), UN agencies (FAO and UNDP), and local government leaders. For this symposium, local government representatives were invited from Southern districts- Chukha, Dagana, Samtse, Tsirang, Pema Gatshel (Nganglam), Sarpang, Samdrup Jongkhar, and Zhemgang, reinforcing the symposium’s commitment to multi-sectoral collaboration and grass-root level engagement in strengthening Bhutan’s One Health approach.
Under the theme “Building a Resilient Future: One Health Approach at All Levels to Emerging Threats,” the symposium highlighted the critical role of multi-stakeholder engagement in addressing emerging health challenges. The event focused on enhancing awareness and participation among field-level stakeholders, strengthening cross-sectoral collaboration, and developing key recommendations to inform the revision of the Bhutan One Health Strategy. It also aimed to reinforce coordination and partnerships across human, animal, and environmental health sectors for a more effective and unified response to health threats.
The three-day symposium featured keynote addresses by leading experts, along with scientific and policy presentations on critical One Health challenges. Panel discussions explored zoonotic diseases, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), pandemic preparedness, vector-borne diseases, wildlife health, and the impact of climate change on public health. On Day 3, interactive World Café-style sessions facilitated solution-driven discussions, while networking opportunities fostered knowledge exchange and collaboration among stakeholders.
The symposium concluded with actionable recommendations to strengthen national preparedness and response to public health threats, reinforcing Bhutan’s commitment to the global One Health movement. By enhancing cross-sectoral collaboration, the event is expected to play a crucial role in building a resilient and sustainable health security system for the country.
This symposium was made possible with support from the Pandemic Fund Project.