India Hosts 16th BRICS Health Ministers’ Meeting

India hosted the 16th BRICS Health Ministers’ Meeting in Chandigarh from 22 to 24 July 2026 under its BRICS Chairship 2026. The meeting brought together health ministers, senior officials, and technical experts from the 11-member BRICS grouping, which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Indonesia.

BRICS Health Cooperation

BRICS is a grouping of major emerging economies that began as BRIC and became BRICS after South Africa joined in 2010. The bloc now has 11 members after expansion in 2024 and 2025, and it covers cooperation in health, trade, technology, and development.

Ministerial Declaration and Core Themes

Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda chaired the Health Ministers’ Meeting on 23 July 2026. The members unanimously adopted the 16th BRICS Health Ministerial Declaration, which refers to universal health coverage, pandemic preparedness, digital health, and equitable access to medicines. The meeting theme was “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”. The discussions covered health security, digital health, pandemic preparedness, and equitable access to quality healthcare. The agenda also included collaborative research on tuberculosis, prevention and response to mass infectious diseases, and promotion of mental well-being.

Mental Wellness and Traditional Medicine

India proposed a BRICS Network of Centres of Excellence on Mental Wellness, and NIMHANS, Bengaluru, was named as the coordinating institution for the initiative. NIMHANS stands for the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, a premier institute in Bengaluru, Karnataka. BRICS countries also approved a working group on traditional medicine. Traditional medicine includes systems such as Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Unani, Siddha, and other indigenous healthcare practices recognised in different countries.

Important Facts for Exams

• BRICS originally stood for Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
• Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Indonesia are the newer BRICS members.
• Universal health coverage is a global health goal linked to access to essential health services without financial hardship.
• Digital health includes electronic health records, telemedicine, and health data systems.

High-Level Dialogue on Digital Health

A high-level dialogue was scheduled for 24 July 2026 on interoperable digital health infrastructure and responsible artificial intelligence. Interoperability in health systems refers to the ability of different digital platforms to exchange and use health information across institutions and countries.