One Health Approach India

In a landmark development for animal healthcare, the Government of India has introduced the first national guidelines for veterinary blood transfusion services. Announced on August 25, 2025, by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, this initiative marks a significant step towards improving animal health in India and emergency care.

The guidelines are designed to standardize blood donation, storage, and transfusion practices for animals, integrating scientific rigor, ethical standards, and the One Health approach in India.

Why the Guidelines Were Needed

Historically, most animal blood transfusions in India were performed during emergencies without established protocols.

This created multiple challenges:

• No consistent donor screening or health verification

• Lack of blood typing or cross-matching, leading to adverse transfusion reactions

• Absence of biosafety measures, risking infections

These gaps often resulted in ineffective treatment for trauma, anemia, surgery-related blood loss, and infectious diseases in animals. The new guidelines aim to address these shortcomings while strengthening public health in India through human-animal environmental health initiatives in India.

Key Provisions of the New Framework

1. Scientific and Ethical Blood Collection

The guidelines emphasize safe and ethical practices in veterinary transfusions:

• Mandatory blood typing and cross-matching to ensure compatibility and prevent adverse reactions

• Defined donor eligibility, including health checks and vaccination status

• Voluntary donation model, backed by a Donor Rights Charter, ensuring informed consent and ethical practices

This framework ensures a safer veterinary health integration system and aligns with the One Health strategy for pandemic prevention in India by reducing zoonotic disease risks.

2. Infrastructure and Regulation

The guidelines make states responsible for establishing biosafety-compliant veterinary blood banks.

These facilities must:

• Meet regulatory and hygiene standards

• Ensure safe storage and handling of animal blood

• Connect to a National Veterinary Blood Bank Network, including donor registries, real-time inventory tracking, and emergency helplines for veterinarians.

This approach fosters human animal health in India and supports the One Health framework in India by linking animal welfare with broader public health goals.

One Health Integration

The One Health approach in India links human, animal, and environmental health, providing a holistic solution for zoonotic diseases. Through this integration, veterinarians, public health officials, and environmental scientists can collaborate to manage outbreaks, prevent epidemics, and improve zoonotic disease control in India.

The initiative also supports:

• Integrated One Health model for public health in India

• Role of One Health in India’s healthcare system, ensuring seamless collaboration across sectors

• Strategic management of zoonotic diseases and emerging infections

Technology and Innovation in Veterinary Services

The guidelines encourage modernization and digital integration:

• Mobile blood collection units for rural outreach

• Preservation of rare blood types

• Mobile apps to match donors with recipients

These innovations ensure that veterinary emergency care reaches remote and underserved areas, improving animal health in India and aligning with the One Health approach for zoonotic diseases in India.

Education and Capacity Building

To ensure sustainable implementation:

• New training modules will be included in the veterinary curriculum

• Focus on ethical practices, technical skills, and awareness

• Build a workforce capable of managing human animal environmental health initiatives in India effectively

This educational focus strengthens the One Health policy in India and ensures the long-term success of the initiative.

Sectoral Impact and Economic Significance

India is home to over 537 million livestock and 125 million companion animals, with the sector contributing 5.5% to national GDP and over 30% to agricultural GDP.

The guidelines will:

• Improve emergency care and disease management

• Support rural livelihoods and food security

• Enhance veterinary health integration within the One Health approach in India

Final Thoughts

By standardizing veterinary blood transfusion services, India strengthens both animal welfare and public health, ensuring a more resilient healthcare ecosystem.

The launch of the first national guidelines for veterinary blood transfusion services marks a historic step in animal healthcare in India. By introducing standardized protocols for blood donation, storage, and transfusion, the initiative ensures safer and more effective emergency care for animals. The integration of the One Health approach in India highlights the critical connection between human, animal, and environmental health, helping manage zoonotic diseases and strengthen public health in India.

With the establishment of biosafety-compliant veterinary blood banks, digital donor registries, and mobile collection units, the guidelines embrace technology and innovation to modernize veterinary services. The focus on ethical practices, donor rights, and education ensures long-term sustainability.