The 16th BRICS Health Ministers’ Meeting concluded in Chandigarh, where the BRICS Health Ministers’ Declaration was unanimously adopted. The declaration reaffirmed the group’s commitment to strengthening global health cooperation, pandemic preparedness, digital health, mental health care, and universal health coverage.
Health ministers, senior officials, and public health experts from BRICS member nations came together for this meeting, held under the India’s 2026 BRICS Chairship theme: “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.” The objective was to formulate a roadmap for collaborative action towards robust and equitable healthcare systems.
India Highlights Health Reforms
Delivering the keynote address virtually, Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda stated that BRICS has emerged as a prominent voice of the ‘Global South’. He called for robust multilateral cooperation to tackle infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases, and future health emergencies. He also highlighted India’s digital health initiatives, such as the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission and e-Sanjeevani—as models for expanding access to healthcare services through digital public infrastructure.
India Highlights Health Reforms
The ministers approved several key initiatives, including strengthening the BRICS TB Research Network, establishing a sub-working group on the BRICS Integrated Early Warning System for infectious diseases, and launching the BRICS Network of Centres of Excellence on mental wellness. India’s NIMHANS will coordinate this network.
The meeting approved enhanced cooperation in digital health, medical product regulation, vaccine research, traditional medicine, and public health institutions. Support was also expressed for efforts to improve equitable access to medicines, vaccines, and medical technology.
Health Security and Innovation Take Centre Stage
BRICS members endorsed an operational framework to address diseases linked to social determinants of health and to enhance cooperation among national public health institutions. The meeting also supported initiatives promoting healthy lifestyles, regulatory alignment, nuclear medicine, and capacity building across member countries.
BRICS Adopts Joint Health Declaration
In the adopted declaration, BRICS nations reiterated their commitment to building robust, inclusive, and people-centric healthcare systems through innovation, research, knowledge sharing, and sustained international cooperation. Member countries welcomed India’s leadership in advancing the BRICS health track and supported continued collaboration on the bloc’s priority health initiatives.
(PIB)
