From concept to practice: dilemmas and mechanism innovations in the implementation of One Health at the grassroots level in China

doi:10.12140/j.issn.1000-7423.2026.01.015

Abstract

Abstract:

Objective To investigate the dilemma and optimization path for implementation of the One Health concept at the grassroots level in China, so as to provide the decision-making evidence for grassroots health governance in China. Methods A total of 30 workers were sampled from grassroots government departments related to One Health in Beijing, Zhejiang, Hainan, and Qinghai from June to August in 2023, including provincial-, municipal-, and county-level health commissions, centers for disease control and prevention, departments of ecology and environment, agriculture departments, transportation departments, and administrations for market regulation) as interviewees. Semi-structured interviews were conducted using the convenience sampling method to collect practical experiences, current situations, and problems related to the multi-sectoral health collaboration of the One Health concept. The interview data were subjected to open coding, axial coding, selective coding and analysis using the software NVivo 12. Results Following open coding of interview data， a total of 51 initial concepts, along with 25 sub-categories were yielded, including preparation and response, safety risk, information exchange, concept acceptance, management and coordination, communication methods, social benefits, collaboration mechanisms, collaborative governance, cross-regional collaboration, policy and planning, incentive mechanisms, international cooperation, audit plans, departmental responsibilities, joint planning, cross-sectoral collaboration, information sharing, economic conditions, health conditions, publicity, resources, evaluation mechanisms, feedback mechanisms, and supervision and implementation. Following axial coding and re-clustering, these 25 sub-categories were condensed into 10 main categories, namely information exchange, policy and planning, incentive mechanisms, social benefits, dissemination, collaboration mechanisms, communication, resources, preparation and response, and international cooperation. Axial coding and selective coding revealed that multisectoral collaboration was notably crucial in implementation of the One Health concept, and this collaboration was embodied in cross-sectoral cooperation, emergency response, data sharing, social responsibility, and global collaboration. Conclusion Institutional innovation is critical to implementation of One Health, which requires the establishment of grassroots mechanisms to achieve health coordinated governance of “human-animal-environment”. It is necessary to implement the strategy of “preventing human diseases by controlling animal diseases, and implementation of interventions moving forward from the source”, and strengthen the prevention at the source. Future efforts should focus on expansion of pilot programs, popularization of assessment tools, and extension of policies to communities.

Key words: One Health concept, Practice, Policy implementation

CLC Number:

XIE Hongli, LU Danping, GAO Yang. From concept to practice: dilemmas and mechanism innovations in the implementation of One Health at the grassroots level in China[J]. CHINESE JOURNAL OF PARASITOLOGY AND PARASITIC DISEASES, 2026, 44(1): 102-109.

Figures/Tables 3

Table 1

Based on the initial concepts and sub-categories generated by open coding based on semi-structured interviews of 30 workers from departments related to One Health

访谈原文 Original text of the interview		初始概念 Initial concept		子范畴 Subcategory
在公共卫生应急紧急状况下，因为企业多，政府给我们增加了一个部门 In the event of a public health emergency, due to the large number of enterprises, the government has added an additional department for us		应急协作强化 Strengthened emergency collaboration		准备和响应 Preparation and response
疫情挺可怕的。这些也牵扯到协调和沟通机制，需提前做好预案 The epidemic is quite terrible. These also involve coordination and communication mechanisms, and contingency plans need to be made in advance		应急协调重要性 Importance of emergency coordination		准备和响应 Preparation and response
安全生产方面有连带责任，因为企业散在各个地区，范围较大、层次不一 There is a joint responsibility in terms of work safety because the enterprises are scattered across various regions, with a wide range and varying levels		跨区域协作 Cross-regional collaboration		安全风险 Safety risk
在新型冠状病毒感染疫情大流行期间，严格执行疫情管控措施，保持较疏远的社交距离 During the COVID-19 pandemic, strict epidemic control measures were implemented and a relatively distant social distance was maintained		疫情沟通挑战 Challenges in communication during the epidemic
食品检疫和安全现在归海关负责 Food quarantine and safety are now under the responsibility of the customs		食品安全监控 Food safety monitoring
缺少强大的、第一时间把关键信息传递给每个相关部门的沟通信息平台 Lack of a powerful communication platform that can promoptly convey key information to each relevant department		通信平台缺失 Missing communication platform		信息交流 Information exchange
实施多渠道监测，在信息通报方面保持公开透明 Multi-channel monitoring is implemented and openness and transparency of information notification is required		信息共享Information sharing
通过报纸、电台、电视、网站、社交媒体等，提供各种不同类型的新闻、资讯和信息 Various types of news and information are provided via newspapers, radio, television, websites and social media		多渠道信息传播 Multi-channel information dissemination
One Health理念，主要是说人、动物环境之间的相互联系 The One Health concept mainly refers to the interconnections among humans, animals and environments	One Health的理解 Understanding about One Health		理念认可 Concept recognition
这个One Health理念思路广泛、见识也更广，相信政府部门会进一步采纳，也会越来越好 This One Health concept has a broad perspective and extensive knowledge. It is believed that the government departments will further adopt it and it will get better and better	理念识别 Concept identification		理念认可 Concept recognition
我想应该是各个部门之间的协作问题吧 I think it might be a problem related to the collaboration among different departments	协作挑战识别 Identification of collabo-rative challenge		管理和协调 Management and coordination
我们的部门间都是各自为政 Our department and all the other departments operate independently	部门独立性 Departmental independence		管理和协调 Management and coordination
与多部门（住建、环保、水利、农牧、公安、铁路、交通、市场监管）等协作沟通是爱国卫生运动重要工作之一 Collaborating and communicating with multiple departments (such as departments of housing and urban-rural development, environmental protection, water resources, agriculture and animal husbandry, public security, railways, transportation, and market regulation) is one of the important tasks of the patriotic health campaign	爱国卫生协作 Patriotic health collaboration		沟通方式 Communication methods
一个文件的起草及方案的制定，一个工作的落实，分分钟都在沟通协调中 The drafting of a document and the formulation of a plan, as well as the implementation of a task, are all in the process of communication and coordination every minute	方案协调 Scheme coordination		沟通方式 Communication methods
我们要考虑企业效益、经济效益，还要考虑社会效益 We need to take into account the enterprise’s efficiency, economic benefits, as well as social benefits	社会效益重视Emphasis on social benefits		社会效益 Social benefits
公众对突发公共卫生事件的意识也需要提高 The public’s awareness of sudden public health incidents also needs to be enhanced	社会意识 Social consciousness
我们主要提供一些服务，与其他厅局有一些数据交换 We mainly provide some services, and share data with other departments	服务与数据交换 Service and data exchange
对不同地区、不同人群疫情防控工作实行分类指导 We provide classified guidance for prevention and control of the epidemic tailored at different regions and different populations	分类指导 Classified guidance		协作机制 Collaboration mechanism
这个也符合关于One Health理念多部门协同机制，牵头和领导，在关键时刻挺身而出 This is also in agreement with the multi-sectoral collaboration mechanism of the One Health concept, which plays a leading role under critical circumstances	机制认可 Mechanism recognition		协作机制 Collaboration mechanism
建立政府部门之间的协调机制，避免政府部门之间互不协调、各自为政的情况发生 An inter-government coordination mechanism is establish to avoid inter-government incoordination or independent actions	政府间协调 Inter-governmental coordination		协同治理 Collaborative governance
将生态环境保护工作纳入考核体系，以评比各政府部门环保工作的成效 Ecological and environmental protection is incorporated into the assessment system to evaluate the effectiveness of environmental protection by various government departments	绩效考核 Performance appraisal		协同治理 Collaborative governance
积极推动跨省执法联动，开展联合执法 Cross-provincial law enforcement coordination is actively promoted, and joint law enforcement is performed	跨区域协作Cross-regional collaboration		跨区协作Cross-regional collaboration
加强行政执法与刑事司法的有效衔接，建立联席会议制度 Strengthening the effective connection between administrative law enforcement and criminal justice, and establishing a joint meeting system	执法衔接Law enforcement connection		跨区协作Cross-regional collaboration
社会组织与社会治理协同创新中心旨在引领、倡导、影响社会治理研究 The collaborative innovation center for social organizations and social governance aims to lead, advocate and influence research on social governance	社会治理创新 Social governance innovation		政策与规划 Policy and planning
特别强调社会组织民主协商的重要性 Emphasized the importance of democratic consultation among social organizations	民主协商 Democratic consultation		政策与规划 Policy and planning
对有突出贡献的，给予荣誉表彰 Those who have made outstanding contributions will be honored and commended	激励机制 Incentive mechanism		激励机制 Incentive mechanism
全球化背景下，病毒传播的速度也大大加快 In the context of globalization, the speed of virus transmission has also greatly accelerated	全球化影响 The impact of globalization		国际合作 International cooperation
世界卫生组织公布的全球健康面临的十大威胁，其中半数以上都与病毒相关 More than half of the top ten threats to global health as announced by the World Health Organization are related to viruses	全球健康威胁 Threat to global health		国际合作 International cooperation
每年都会有一个审计计划，报当地的审计委员会去批准 There is an audit plan every year, which is reported to the local audit committee for approval	年度审计计划 Annual audit plan		审计计划 Audit plan
资金是针对事的，协同只是一个机制 Funds are targeted at matters, and collaboration is only a mechanism	资金与协同 Funds and coordination		审计计划 Audit plan
在急性传染病突发情况下，需要各个部门协同合作 During outbreak of acute infectious diseases, collaborative efforts of all departments are required		应急协作 Emergency collaboration	部门职责 Departmental responsibilities
协作中的很多问题是部门之间的责任划分不清 Many problems during collaboration arise from the unclear division of responsibilities among departments		责任内容 Responsibility content	部门职责 Departmental responsibilities
执行阶段需要重点考虑的，而且执行阶段我觉得最重要的是抓落实抓进度 What needs to be given key consideration during the execution stage, and I think the most important thing during the execution stage is to ensure implementation and progress		执行与进度 Execution and progress	联合规划 Joint planning
在新型冠状病毒感染疫情期间，我们更紧密地与各部门进行协调 During the COVID-19 pandemic, we had closer coordination with various departments		紧急协同响应 Emergency coordinated response	联合规划 Joint planning
疫情防控、医疗救治、科研攻关、宣传、外事、后勤保障、前方工作等工作组分工协作，形成疫情防控的有效合力 Epidemic prevention and control, medical treatment and cure, scientific research breakthroughs, publicity, foreign affairs, logistics support, frontline work are divided collaborated to form an effective coordination for epidemic prevention and control		有效合力 Effective coordination	跨部门协作 Cross-sectoral collaboration
我们会通知卫生健康委等部门处理公共卫生事件 We will notify the health commission and other departments to handle public health incidents		公共卫生协作Public health collaboration	跨部门协作 Cross-sectoral collaboration
对于跨境疾病的防控，需要海关、卫生部门、边检等多部门的密切合作 The prevention and control of cross-border diseases require close cooperation among multiple departments such as customs, health departments, and border inspection departments		跨境疾病防控 Cross-border disease prevention and control	信息共享 Information sharing
新型冠状病毒感染疫情期间，海关、交通、工商局之间的信息流通和协调更为重要 During the COVID-19 pandemic, the information circulation and coordination among customs, transportation department and industry and commerce department have become even more crucial		信息共享与协调 Information sharing and coordination	信息共享 Information sharing
每次疫情的暴发都对经济产生极大影响和损失 Each outbreak of the epidemic has a significant impact and causes considerable losses to the economy		经济损失 Economic loss	经济情况 Economic situation
人们都说5年、20年之后，艾滋病疫苗会开发出来，但是现在疫苗在哪里?我们不仅面对着长期未解决的困境，新的病毒还在时不时出现 People all say that an AIDS vaccine will be developed in five or twenty years, but where is the vaccine now? Not only are we confronted with long-standing unresolved predicaments, but new viruses are also emerging from time to time		疾病类型趋势 Trend of disease types	健康情况 Health condition
通过报纸、广播、电视等平台，加大宣传力度，让公众了解环保知识和信息 Increasing publicity efforts through platforms such as newspapers, radio and television to enable the public to understand environmental protection knowledge and information		媒体宣传 Media promotion	宣传 Publicity
一些突发性传染病是无法预防的，提高我们的卫生管理能力是非常重要的 Some emergency infectious diseases are impossible to be prevented. It is very important to enhance our health management capabilities.		提升治理能力Enhance governance capacity	宣传 Publicity
专业人员短缺 Shortage of professionals		人力资源 Human resources	资源 Resources
需要考虑疫情防控资金如何分配和使用 It is necessary to consider how the funds for epidemic prevention and control should be allocated and utilized		金融资源 Financial resources
准备好设备和防护用品 Preparing the equipment and protective gear		物质资源 Material resources
缺乏集中化的系统平台支撑 Lack of centralized system platform support		技术资源 Technical resources
制定标准，对工作绩效进行量化 Establishing standards and quantifying work performance		量化考核机制 Quantitative assessment mechanism	评价机制 Evaluation mechanism
考核是指挥棒 Assessment is the baton		考核机制 Assessment mechanism
为每个职位设定标准并量化绩效 Setting standards for each position and quantifying performance		定量评估机制 Quantitative assessment mechanism
定期召开联络会议，加强沟通交流 Regular liaison meetings should be held to enhance communication and exchanges		通知反馈 Notification and feedback	反馈机制 Feedback mechanism
对任务的执行情况进行评估 Evaluating the execution of the task		审查 Review	监督实施 Supervise of implementation

Table 1

Table 2

Main category and the category connotation generated from main axial coding of 25 sub-categories

主范畴Main category	子范畴Subcategory	范畴内涵Category connotation
信息交流 Information exchange	媒体宣传 Media promotion	透过不同的传播媒介，教育及宣传有关知识 Educating and promoting relevant knowledge through various types of media
信息交流 Information exchange	提升治理能力 Enhancing governance capacity	提高对全健康概念的认识，以实现对可持续发展的共同承诺 Increasing awareness of the One Health concept to achieve a common commitment to sustainable development
政策与规划 Policy and planning	规划机制Planning mechanism	各部门参与协同治理需要提前规划和批准计划 All departments’ participation in collaborative governance requires planning and approval of plans in advance
政策与规划 Policy and planning	审批机制Approval mechanism
激励机制 Incentive mechanism	激励机制Incentive mechanism	通过具体的方法和管理，调动人员的积极性 The enthusiasm of personnel can be mobilized through specific methods and management
社会效益 Social benefits	社会责任 Social responsibility	公共卫生保障 Public health security
传播 Dissemination	媒体宣传 Media promotion	透过不同的传播媒介，教育及宣传有关知识 Educating and promote relevant know-ledge through various types of media
协作机制 Collaboration mechanism	提升治理能力 Enhancing governance capacity	增强公共卫生治理能力，以应对一切突发风险 Enhance the capacity for public health governance to deal with all sudden risks
协作机制 Collaboration mechanism	协调部门 Coordination department	建立有效的沟通协调机制或设立相关部门，促进各部门的协调 Establishing an effective communication and coordination mechanism or setting up relevant departments to promote coordination among various departments
沟通 Communication	会议Meeting	各部门通过会议、教育、培训等方式进行知识共享和沟通 All departments share knowledge and communicate through meetings, education, training and other means
沟通 Communication	教育和培训Education and training
资源 Resources	人力资源Human resources	资源包括人力、财力、物力和技术资源的数量和质量 Resources include the quantity and quality of human, financial, material and technical resources
	金融资源Financial resources
	物质资源Material resources
	技术资源Technical resources
准备和反应Preparation and response	紧急救援计划Emergency rescue plan	应对突发事件的一系列行动计划和措施 A series of action plans and measures as responses to emergencies
准备和反应Preparation and response	预警预报Early warning and forecast
国际合作 International cooperation	国际环境International environment	世界上对该国的总体印象、认知和评价，以及该国与世界上其他国家和地区的政治、经济、文化、卫生等关系 The overall impression, perception and evaluation of the country in the world, as well as its political, economic, cultural, health and other relations with other countries and regions around the world
国际合作 International cooperation	全球化的影响 The influence of globalization

Table 2

Table 3

Main categories and their connotations generated from selective coding

分类 Classification	主范畴 Main category	范畴 Category	范畴内涵 Category connotation
协作机制 Collaboration mechanism	跨部门合作 Cross-sectoral cooperation	职责划分 Division of responsibilities	明确各部门在卫生事件中的责任和角色 Clarifying the responsibilities and roles of each department in health events
	跨部门合作 Cross-sectoral cooperation	协同策略 Collaborative strategy	实施有效的跨部门沟通和合作策略 Implementing effective cross-sectoral communication and cooperation strategies
	应急响应 Emergency response	快速响应 Quick response	迅速反应并处理突发公共卫生事件 Responding promptly to and handle public health emergencies
	应急响应 Emergency response	预案制定Formulation of contingency plans	提前规划和准备应对各种潜在公共卫生危机的策略 Planing and preparing strategies in advance to deal with various potential public health crises
信息交流 Information exchange	数据共享 Data sharing	信息平台 Information platform	建立共享关键信息的有效平台 Establishing an effective platform for sharing key information
信息交流 Information exchange	数据共享 Data sharing	通信协调Communication coordination	保持各部门间的顺畅沟通和及时信息交流 Maintaining smooth communication and timely information exchange among various departments
社会效益 Social benefits	社会责任 Social responsibility	公共卫生保障 Public health security	保障公共卫生安全和社会稳定 Ensuring public health security and social stability
社会效益 Social benefits	社会责任 Social responsibility	社会意识提升Improvement of social awareness	增强公众对公共卫生重要性的认识 Enhancing public awareness of the importance of public health
政策与规划 Policy and planning	法规制定 Regulation formulation	防控策略 Preventive strategy	将人兽共患病防治纳入公共卫生体系，落实“人病兽防、关口前移”策略，强化源头防控 Incorporating the prevention and control of zoonoses into the public health system, and implementing the strategy of “preventing human diseases by controlling animal diseases, and implementation of interventions moving forward from the source” to strength the disease prevention and control at the source
政策与规划 Policy and planning	法规制定 Regulation formulation	策略优化 Strategy optimization	持续改进公共卫生策略和计划 Continuous improvement of public health strategies and plans
国际合作 International coo-peration	全球协同 Global coordination	跨国沟通 Cross-country communication	与其他国家和国际组织合作，应对全球公共卫生的挑战 Cooperation with other countries and international organizations to address global public health challenges
国际合作 International coo-peration	全球协同 Global coordination	共享资源 Shared resources	共享知识、技术和资源以提升全球卫生水平 Knowledge, technology and resources sharing to enhance global health levels

Table 3

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