Rethinking our collective well-being by sliding from one to Common health

Extract

Following the One Health concept originally conceived in 1984 and formalized within the Wildlife Conservation Society as the 12 principles of Manhattan in 2004, several concepts have been proposed to frame a trajectory that would support the livability of planet Earth. It can be credited for advancing the integration of all aspects of health but could be viewed as juxtaposing human and animal health without creating close links and overlooking social health as well. The common health concept has been proposed to account for these caveats (Acunzo et al. 2018). In short, this concept posits that the good status of planet Earth can be defined, assessed, and targeted through the health status of ecosystems (i.e., water, soil and biomass), society (in the sense of equitable access to and governance of the common goods and public services; e.g., health and education), and individuals. Their intricate nature is acknowledged, as well as the foundational position of ecosystem health: no organism on Earth can survive long without water or food. In a more subtle way, long-lasting existence plagued by diseases caused by degraded water, soil, and biomass may not be preferable. And because health may not be just a snapshot, more of a movie, the question of this common health should be raised not only here and now but also there and after. Expanding on this idea, it invites us to think beyond the immediate and suggests that health should not be considered solely in terms of the present and local issues but must also take into account long-term and long-range implications. By adopting this approach, we acknowledge that what we do today will shape health outcomes tomorrow, calling for a systemic approach to health management.