The Union Ministry of Health on April 15 led the first Health Working Group (HWG) meeting under the BRICS framework for 2026, held in a virtual format.
The meeting brought together senior officials, technical experts, and representatives from member nations Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates, and Indonesia to discuss key areas of collaboration in public health, according to an official statement.
As the 2026 BRICS Chair, India is guided by the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.” This vision reflects a people-centric and inclusive approach, aligned with the direction outlined by the Prime Minister during the 2025 Rio Summit, and highlights India’s focus on future-ready and collaborative health systems.
In her opening address, Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava welcomed participants and emphasised the importance of the HWG as a platform for strengthening global public health cooperation. She noted that past meetings have enabled joint efforts in tackling communicable and non-communicable diseases, improving health systems, and ensuring access to affordable medicines.
She added that collaboration has also advanced areas such as pandemic preparedness, innovation in health technologies, and progress toward universal health coverage.
Highlighting India’s priorities during its chairship, Srivastava stressed the need for inclusive, sustainable, and evidence-based cooperation, while acknowledging the diverse healthcare systems and socio-economic conditions across BRICS nations. She underscored the importance of adaptability, shared learning, and collective expertise in designing effective and scalable health solutions.
She also pointed out that previous BRICS Health Ministers’ meetings have consistently advocated for sharing best practices, strengthening infrastructure, and building resilient healthcare systems capable of handling public health emergencies.
Calling for deeper cooperation, she emphasised joint research and development, equitable access to vaccines and medicines, and capacity-building initiatives.
In addition to ongoing priorities, India proposed two new focus areas: the BRICS Mission for Healthy Lifestyles and the Promotion of Mental Health and Wellness. The first aims to encourage healthier habits and address risk factors like poor diet, inactivity, tobacco use, and alcohol consumption. The second focuses on improving mental health services, reducing stigma, and integrating mental health into broader public health systems.
Srivastava also highlighted India’s emphasis on evidence-based traditional medicine, rooted in biodiversity and indigenous knowledge, as a valuable component of universal health coverage and sustainable development, urging greater global cooperation in this field.
Reaffirming the importance of multilateral partnerships, she expressed confidence that discussions under the Health Track will strengthen ties and deepen understanding among BRICS nations, while encouraging active participation to translate shared goals into concrete outcomes for global health.
