The “One Health” approach, a central topic at G7 Health 2024

The overarching themes of the forthcoming G7 Health meeting, scheduled from 9 to 11 October in Ancona and attended by the Ministers of Health of Canada, France, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America, as well as the Italian Minister of Health, are the “One Health” approach and the focus on antimicrobial resistance. The “One Health” approach establishes an interdisciplinary framework that integrates human, animal, and environmental health within the complex context of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. This approach emphasises combating antibiotic resistance, the ever-increasing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant microbes, and the role of antibiotic overuse or misuse as a key driver of this phenomenon. The objective is to identify common strategies among the health systems of the participating countries to counter the current crises and their associated social and economic costs. It is anticipated that the Ministers will sign a memorandum of commitment to key global health challenges at the end of the meeting.