By: IPP Bureau
Last updated : July 24, 2026 9:02 am
Ministerial meeting concludes with new frameworks on regulatory cooperation, infectious disease surveillance, mental health and digital health to strengthen collaboration among BRICS nations
The 16th BRICS Health Ministers' Meeting concluded in Chandigarh under India's BRICS Chairship 2026, with member countries endorsing a series of collaborative initiatives aimed at strengthening health systems, enhancing pandemic preparedness and advancing equitable healthcare across the Global South.
Held under the theme "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability," the meeting brought together Health Ministers, senior officials and public health experts from BRICS member countries to deliberate on shared public health priorities, including tuberculosis, digital health, regulatory convergence, mental wellness and universal health coverage.
In his virtual keynote address, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Jagat Prakash Nadda highlighted India's efforts to strengthen its healthcare system through expanded access, digital public infrastructure and people-centric policies.
He stressed that resilient public health systems and equitable healthcare are essential for sustainable development and called for deeper cooperation to address infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases, climate-related health risks and emerging technologies.
Highlighting India's priorities during its BRICS Chairship, Nadda noted that BRICS countries account for nearly half of the global tuberculosis burden and emphasised the need to strengthen the BRICS TB Research Network to accelerate collaborative research, innovation and equitable access to new diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines.
He also welcomed the release of the BRICS GxP White Paper, describing it as an important step towards regulatory harmonisation, capacity building and ensuring the quality, safety and efficacy of medical products.
The Minister also announced the establishment of the BRICS Network of Centres of Excellence on Mental Wellness, to be coordinated by the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), alongside the adoption of operational frameworks to address diseases driven by social determinants of health and strengthen collaboration among BRICS National Public Health Institutes.
The meeting concluded with the adoption of the 16th BRICS Health Ministerial Declaration, which India described as establishing enduring institutional mechanisms to deepen cooperation among BRICS countries while advancing a more inclusive and equitable global health architecture.