India is hosting the 16th BRICS Health Ministers’ Meeting in Chandigarh from July 22 to 24 bringing together health ministers, senior government officials and technical experts from the expanded 11-member BRICS grouping to strengthen cooperation in global public health. The meeting is being held under India’s BRICS Chairship 2026 and is expected to focus on building resilient, equitable and technology-driven healthcare systems. The three-day ministerial meeting will provide a platform for member countries to deliberate on key health priorities including health security, pandemic preparedness, digital health, universal health coverage, traditional medicine, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and equitable access to affordable medicines and quality healthcare. Delegates are also expected to discuss strategies for enhancing collaboration in research, innovation and capacity building among BRICS nations.
As part of the programme, a series of technical sessions and working group discussions have been scheduled before the ministerial deliberations. A dedicated meeting on Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (TCIM) has also commenced in Chandigarh reflecting India’s emphasis on integrating evidence-based traditional medicine into public health systems. Representatives from several countries are participating in these discussions to explore collaborative research and policy frameworks.
The meeting assumes significance as BRICS has expanded to include Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates making it one of the largest platforms representing emerging economies. India is expected to use the forum to promote stronger South-South cooperation in healthcare, accelerate digital health initiatives and advance collective responses to future public health emergencies.
According to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the ministerial meeting builds upon the outcomes of the First BRICS Health Working Group Meeting held earlier this year where member countries identified priority areas such as healthy lifestyles, mental well-being, digital health and strengthening resilient health systems. The Chandigarh meeting is expected to culminate in a joint declaration outlining a roadmap for future health cooperation among BRICS nations.