The need to implement better integrated and reasonably optimized protection strategy – One Protection

Abstract

We are surrounded by various hazards and threats to the health of people, animals and the environment. Therefore, the protection work is multifaceted and needs to consider all potential hazards, and balance all potential impacts to the extent practicable. Whilst separated sectorial protections have proved capable of delivering adequate levels of protection for various risks we are facing, it is crucially important that protective activities of various sectors and disciplines be better integrated into a more holistic and reasonably optimized protection strategy – One Protection. Even though the holistic approach has been in practice for decades, more has to be done for better integration with the aim to achieve net health and societal benefits “as optimal as reasonably achievable” (AOARA). In this paper, radiological protection is taken as an example to discuss challenges when sector-specific protective activities are not well integrated and lack prioritization and optimization. It demonstrates the need for better integrated and reasonably optimized protective practices to achieve the objectives of One World One Health and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).