Discuss the relevance of a One Health approach to regional health security in the Bay of Bengal region. What institutional mechanisms has BIMSTEC put in place?

The Bay of Bengal region holds about 1.7 billion people, or 22% of the world's population [2]. People and livestock live close together, and the countries share rivers, coastlines and cyclones. Human, animal and environmental health are therefore linked across borders. A One Health approach treats all three as one system, so it is central to regional health security.

Relevance of One Health to the region

• Zoonotic spillover: diseases that jump from animals to humans cross porous borders. Bangladesh has proposed a Regional Zoonotic Disease Observatory and Early Warning System [1].
• Antimicrobial resistance (AMR): drug-resistant germs spread through people, livestock and water. The Joint Ministerial Statement names AMR as a shared priority [1].
• Climate-sensitive health risks: disasters such as Cyclone Ditwah (Sri Lanka, Nov–Dec 2025) strain health systems. The Statement prioritises climate-related health responses [1].
• Shared surveillance: joint early warning and emergency preparedness avoid duplicated national efforts [1].
• SDG 3 / UHC: prevention where animals, people and the environment meet supports the region's commitment to Universal Health Coverage [1].

BIMSTEC's institutional mechanisms

• Legal footing: the BIMSTEC Charter, in force since 20 May 2024, made BIMSTEC a legal organisation [2].
• Health Ministers' Meeting: the 6th Summit (Bangkok, April 2025) decided to create it. It meets every two years, and the first meeting was held in Colombo [1].
• Outcome documents: a Joint Ministerial Statement sets political commitments, and the Revised Plan of Action on Public Health (2026–2030) is the roadmap for carrying them out [1].
• Expert tracks: Joint Working Groups and expert groups prepare the plans of action [2].
• Centres of Excellence: Traditional Medicine at ITRA, Jamnagar (India); Tropical Medicine (Thailand); Public Health (proposed, Sri Lanka) [1].
• Possible Digital Health Framework: telemedicine, interoperable health records and AI in diagnostics [1].

Gaps

• Decisions need consensus, so one reluctant member can hold up data-sharing [2].
• The MEA itself treats "early implementation" of plans of action as a goal still to be reached [2].
• Ministers meet only every two years, and the digital framework is still only "possible" [1].

BIMSTEC's health track now has political owners, a time-bound plan and specialised centres. Three steps would make it work:

• binding protocols for sharing outbreak data;
• an annual public scorecard for the plan of action;
• joint AMR surveillance that brings together health, veterinary and environment ministries.

These steps would make the Bay of Bengal a zone of shared health security, advance SDG 3, and strengthen India's Neighbourhood First and Act East policies.