In the last two decades, the globe has faced numerous significant public health crises triggered by zoonotic diseases. Notable instances include the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak from 2002 to 2004, the Ebola virus epidemic in West Africa between 2013 and 2016, the spread of the Zika virus in the Americas from 2015 to 2016, and the COVID-19 pandemic starting in 2019. These events underscore the pressing need for a holistic, integrated approach to address these health threats. The global One Health index (GOHI) was introduced to meet this need, emphasizing a collaborative strategy across human, animal, and environmental health domains. This initiative is backed by significant global organizations like the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Organization of Animal Health (WOAH), and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Together, they have clearly defined One Health as “an integrated, unifying approach that aims to sustainably balance and optimize the health of people, animals and ecosystems”. The GOHI project aims to assess the application and development status of the One Health approach in over 160 countries/territories, intending to enhance its global implementation. The GOHI framework evaluates various aspects, including external, intrinsic, and core drivers of One Health development. Emphasizing a multidisciplinary collaboration, GOHI offers insights into the global performance of the One Health approach, highlighting areas for improvement. Its ultimate goal is to guide nations in adopting effective strategies, optimizing health practices, and formulating policies that encompass the intricate interplay between humans, animals, and the environment.