Medical Science | Open Access |

India's Path to Rabies Elimination by 2030: A Critical Review of Integrated One Health Strategies, Policy Innovations, and the Road Ahead

Dr. Vivek S. Krishnan , Department of Public Health & Epidemiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, India

Abstract

India aims to eliminate dog-mediated human rabies by 2030 — an ambitious but achievable goal that requires coordinated, multisectoral action. This critical review synthesizes evidence from epidemiology, veterinary and public-health practice, policy analyses, and implementation studies to evaluate the effectiveness of integrated One Health strategies and recent policy innovations across India. We examine core interventions (mass dog vaccination, improved post-exposure prophylaxis access and affordability, community education, and humane dog population management), enabling systems (surveillance and reporting, diagnostic capacity, vaccine supply chains, workforce training), and governance mechanisms (intersectoral coordination bodies, public–private partnerships, and financing instruments). The review identifies notable progress — localized successful mass-vaccination campaigns, advances in cold-chain and rabies biologics procurement, and nascent digital surveillance pilots — alongside persistent barriers: fragmented responsibilities between health and animal sectors, inequitable PEP access in rural and peri-urban areas, data gaps and underreporting, cultural and operational challenges in dog management, and unstable financing. We propose a prioritized, evidence-based roadmap emphasizing (1) national scale-up of sustained dog vaccination to ≥70% coverage, (2) universal, decentralized access to WHO-recommended PEP, (3) integrated real-time surveillance with One Health data sharing, (4) community-led behaviour change and risk communication, and (5) predictable multi-year financing with performance-linked metrics. Closing research and implementation gaps through operational research and routine program evaluation is essential. With sustained political commitment and coordinated implementation, India can plausibly meet the 2030 elimination target — but only if current momentum is translated into scalable, accountable action now.

Keywords

Rabies Elimination, One Health, India, Mass Dog Vaccination (MDV)

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Dr. Vivek S. Krishnan. (2025). India’s Path to Rabies Elimination by 2030: A Critical Review of Integrated One Health Strategies, Policy Innovations, and the Road Ahead. The American Journal of Medical Sciences and Pharmaceutical Research, 7(11), 01–11. Retrieved from https://theamericanjournals.com/index.php/tajmspr/article/view/6873