Archive · 8 Aug 2026
BRICS health ministers pledge deeper cooperation toward universal health coverage
The health leaders of a group of countries called BRICS got together in a city in India called Chandigarh.
BRICS is a club of countries that includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
At their meeting, they promised to work together to make health care better for people.
They want everyone in their countries to be able to see a doctor when they are sick, no matter how much money they have.
That idea is called universal health coverage.
They also picked nine important things to work on, like fighting tuberculosis, getting ready for future pandemics, and mental health.
India hosted the meeting and led the discussions.
India's health minister, Jagat Prakash Nadda, said that working together will make health systems stronger.
Brazil already gives free health care to everyone, and India has a big health insurance plan called Ayushman Bharat.
By sharing ideas, the countries hope to make health care cheaper and easier to get for billions of people.
The 16th BRICS health ministers' declaration was adopted at a gathering chaired by India in Chandigarh.
The declaration commits the bloc to deeper cooperation in health care and collective work toward achieving universal health coverage (UHC).
Over 70 representatives and partner organisations endorsed nine priority areas, including mental health, tuberculosis control, pandemic preparedness, traditional medicine and nuclear medicine.
India's Health and Family Welfare Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda said enhanced cooperation would strengthen public health systems and accelerate digital health care solutions.
Brazil leads the bloc with free health care under its Unified Health System, while India's Ayushman Bharat is among the world's largest publicly funded insurance schemes.
- Who
- Health ministers of BRICS member states (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa), chaired by India's Minister of Health and Family Welfare Jagat Prakash Nadda, joined by over 70 representatives and partner organisations.
- What
- Adoption of the 16th BRICS health ministers' declaration, committing the bloc to deeper health-care cooperation and collective efforts toward universal health coverage, with nine endorsed priority areas.
- When
- Exact date not stated in the articles; described as a recent gathering chaired by India.
- Where
- Chandigarh, India, where the gathering was chaired by India; the report was published by South Africa-based publication The Citizen.
- Why
- To pool expertise and strengthen collective action so member states can build more accessible, affordable and resilient health systems and achieve universal health coverage.
- Event
- 16th BRICS health ministers' meeting and declaration
- Chair
- India
- Location
- Chandigarh, India
- Priority areas endorsed
- 9 areas, including mental health, tuberculosis control, pandemic preparedness, traditional medicine and nuclear medicine
- Participation
- Over 70 representatives and partner organisations
- Indian health minister
- Jagat Prakash Nadda
- Notable national programmes
- Brazil's Unified Health System; India's Ayushman Bharat and National Rural Health Mission
- Report source
- The Citizen (South Africa)