Summary
The concepts of one
medicine
and 'one health
are supported and visualised as a tree (medicine), placed on the
fertile soil (basic sciences), which divides into the two major
branches of human and veterinary medicine, connected by the large
branch of public health; minor branches (specialisations) depart
from the three larger ones. The synergy between human and veterinary
medicine is not only a must for public health, but also implies
ethical considerations. The basic reasons requiring synergy are
found in the common sharing of the environment, in the use of animal
products by humans, in the common culture and in the many problems
to be faced together. The long list of adversities requiring synergy
is topped by zoonoses (intended both in the classic and in the extended
sense) and food safety that extends to many other items connected
with nutrition, environment, human/animal coexistence and the management
of public health; the entire quality of human life is affected.
Human and veterinary medicine have a strong cultural background
(many subject matters) in common, but unfortunately the undergraduate
and postgraduate education programme (with few important exceptions)
do not offer training in cooperation. The synergy between human
and veterinary medicines is an indicator of 'good public health
practice' and any obstacles to this collaboration should be identified
and eliminated. The logo for a public health founded on synergy
is drawn as an umbrella formed by the medical and veterinary activities,
protecting the population (consumers and producers), the animals
and their products and the environment from the possible adversities
linked to health.
Keywords
Animal,
Health, Public health, Medicine, Zoonosis.
|