India leads BRICS Health Track 2026 with new priorities on healthy lifestyles and mental wellness, strengthening global public health collaboration
New Delhi: The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare convened the first Health Working Group (HWG) meeting under the BRICS framework for 2026 in New Delhi, bringing together senior health officials and experts from member nations to chart a collaborative roadmap for global health.
Broad Participation from BRICS Nations
The meeting witnessed participation from all BRICS countries—Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates, and Indonesia—who deliberated on key public health priorities and cooperation strategies.
India’s 2026 Theme: Resilience, Innovation and Sustainability
As the BRICS Chair for 2026, India introduced the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.” The vision reflects a people-centric and future-ready approach, aligned with global health challenges and long-term sustainability goals.
Focus on Strengthening Global Health Systems
In her address, Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava highlighted the growing importance of BRICS collaboration in tackling communicable and non-communicable diseases, improving access to affordable medicines, and strengthening health infrastructure.
She emphasized that recent BRICS engagements have enhanced pandemic preparedness, health technology innovation, and progress toward Universal Health Coverage.
India Proposes Two New Priority Areas
India introduced two major focus areas under its chairship:
- BRICS Mission for Healthy Lifestyles: Targeting risk factors such as unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, tobacco use, and harmful alcohol consumption.
- Mental Health and Wellness: Aiming to strengthen services, reduce stigma, and integrate mental health into mainstream healthcare systems.
Push for Traditional Medicine and Research Collaboration
India also stressed the importance of traditional and complementary medicine, rooted in biodiversity and indigenous knowledge, as a key contributor to sustainable healthcare.
The meeting called for stronger collaboration in research and development, equitable access to vaccines and medicines, and capacity-building across member nations.
Key Priority Areas Under BRICS Health Working Group
The discussions covered nine major priority areas, including:
- BRICS TB Research Network
- Medical products regulatory cooperation
- Integrated early warning system for infectious diseases
- Digital health infrastructure for remote care
- Healthy lifestyles and mental wellness
- Traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine
- Addressing social determinants of health
- Network of national public health institutes
Member Nations Back India’s Leadership
Countries including Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Indonesia expressed strong support for India’s leadership and endorsed the focus on mental health, healthy living, and digital health expansion.
They also emphasized strengthening tuberculosis research, improving early warning systems, and ensuring equitable access to healthcare technologies.
Roadmap for BRICS Health Track 2026 Finalised
The meeting concluded with consensus on key deliverables and a roadmap for upcoming technical discussions and ministerial-level engagements under the BRICS Health Track 2026.
India Reaffirms Commitment to Global Health Security
The Ministry reiterated India’s commitment to advancing global health security through collaboration, innovation, and shared responsibility, positioning BRICS as a crucial platform for addressing future health challenges.
