Brics health declaration seeks pooled expertise to push universal health coverage

The Brics bloc has moved to strengthen collective health cooperation after health ministers endorsed a declaration at a meeting in India that aims to advance universal health coverage and build more resilient health systems.

What was agreed

The 16th Brics health ministers’ meeting was hosted and chaired by India in Chandigarh from 22 to 24 July. The meeting produced a declaration that was endorsed by more than 70 representatives and partner organisations, committing member states to deeper cooperation in health care and backing earlier pledges to work collectively towards universal health coverage (UHC).

Priorities for joint action

Delegates identified nine priority areas for cooperation. The source lists several of these areas, including mental health, tuberculosis control, pandemic preparedness, traditional medicine and development of nuclear medicine. The declaration also recognises collaboration in disease control, digital health, medical research and pandemic preparedness.

India’s role and showcased programmes

India chaired the meeting and showcased its health-care achievements, medical education, scientific research and innovation. Central to India’s strategy is the Ayushman Bharat programme, described in the source as one of the world’s largest publicly funded health insurance schemes that provides eligible beneficiaries with access to advanced hospital treatments.

Member states’ health models

The article outlines how original Brics members approach health coverage:

• Brazil provides free health care to residents and visitors through its Unified Health System.
• Russia operates a state-backed mandatory health insurance model built around an extensive public health-care network.
• China has achieved near-universal basic health coverage through government-supported insurance schemes.
• India has advanced through policy reforms, infrastructure investment and programmes such as the National Rural Health Mission.
• South Africa has been pursuing a National Health Insurance system but implementation has faced obstacles.

Challenges highlighted

The source notes obstacles to implementing South Africa’s National Health Insurance, including funding constraints, shortages of health-care professionals, inadequate infrastructure, legal challenges over constitutionality and opposition from parts of the private health-care sector.

Calls for collective action

India’s Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Jagat Prakash Nadda, called for greater collective action, saying enhanced cooperation would strengthen public health systems, accelerate digital health solutions and improve access to medical services across member states. Cuba’s ambassador to India, Juan Carlos Marsan Aguilera, welcomed the declaration as evidence of Brics’ determination to deepen cooperation and improve the quality of health care services throughout the bloc.

Outlook

The declaration links targeted cooperation from traditional medicine and digital health to pandemic preparedness and medical research to the broader goal of making health systems more accessible and resilient. The article reports that, while Brics members remain committed to UHC, sustained political commitment and increased investment will be required. The World Bank is cited as observing that health-system reform features on policy agendas, but health-care spending remains relatively modest.

By pooling expertise, the declaration aims to lay foundations for more accessible, affordable and resilient health care for billions of people across the global south.