India has officially launched its BRICS 2026 health agenda, convening the first meeting of the BRICS Health Working Group and introducing new proposals aimed at strengthening cooperation in public health among member states, reports ANI, a partner of TV BRICS.
The meeting brought together senior health officials, technical experts and delegates from Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates, and Indonesia. Discussions focused on identifying priority areas for collaboration to enhance healthcare systems and improve global health security.
Opening the session, Punya Salila Srivastava, Secretary at India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, emphasised that India’s presidency would prioritise inclusive, sustainable and evidence-based health cooperation while recognising the diversity of healthcare systems and socio-economic contexts across BRICS nations. She highlighted the importance of adaptability, mutual learning and leveraging collective expertise to design scalable, high-impact health interventions.
A key proposal presented by India was the BRICS Mission for Healthy Lifestyles, aimed at addressing major risk factors such as unhealthy diets and physical inactivity. The initiative seeks to reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases across member countries.
India also proposed prioritising the promotion of mental health and wellbeing, focusing on strengthening mental health services and integrating mental healthcare into broader public health frameworks.
Another significant area of emphasis was evidence-based traditional medicine, rooted in biodiversity and indigenous knowledge systems. India underscored its potential contribution to Universal Health Coverage and sustainable development, calling for enhanced international cooperation in this field.
(ANI & TV BRICS)
