Chandigarh, Jul 23: Union Health Minister J P Nadda on Thursday said India has undertaken transformative reforms to strengthen its healthcare system through people-centric policies, expanded healthcare access, digital public infrastructure and enhanced service delivery.
Addressing the 16th BRICS Health Ministers’ Meeting virtually, he welcomed the health ministers, heads of delegation and senior officials from BRICS member and partner countries to Chandigarh and thanked them for their continued engagement throughout India’s BRICS chairship.
Recognizing mental health as an essential pillar of Universal Health Coverage, Nadda announced the establishment of the BRICS Network of Centres of Excellence on Mental Wellness, to be coordinated by NIMHANS, as a major institutional initiative to strengthen research, promote mental well-being and narrow treatment gaps across member countries.
He also highlighted the adoption of the operational framework to fight against Diseases Driven by Social Determinants of Health (DD-SDH) and the operational framework for the BRICS Network of National Public Health Institutes, which will provide a durable institutional framework for scientific collaboration, public health intelligence and multi-sectoral action to advance health equity.
Nadda noted that the active participation of member countries reflects the enduring strength of BRICS as a platform for advancing cooperation among the Global South.
A major outcome of the meeting was the unanimous adoption of the 16th BRICS Health Ministerial Declaration, reflecting the shared commitment of BRICS countries to deepen health cooperation and strengthen resilient, equitable and people-centric health systems.
Nadda described the 16th BRICS Health Ministerial Declaration as much more than a consensus document, stating that it establishes enduring institutional mechanisms that will deepen collaboration among BRICS countries in the years ahead.
He reaffirmed India’s vision of an inclusive, collaborative and equitable global health architecture that reflects the aspirations of the Global South and serves the well-being of all humanity.
Invoking the ancient Indian philosophy of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (World is one family), the Union minister called upon BRICS nations to continue working together in the spirit of solidarity, partnership and shared responsibility to build a healthier future for all.
Highlighting the evolution of BRICS over the past two decades, Nadda noted that the grouping has emerged as a defining voice of the Global South and an increasingly influential platform in shaping a more inclusive and equitable global order.
He observed that infectious diseases, the rising burden of non-communicable diseases, climate-related health risks and rapid technological advancements require deeper multilateral cooperation and stronger institutional partnerships.
As part of its BRICS chairship 2026, India is hosting the sixteenth BRICS Health Ministers’ Meeting here from July 22-24.
BRICS, originally comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, expanded in 2024 to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates, with Indonesia joining in 2025.
BRICS has emerged as an influential grouping as it brings together 11 major emerging economies of the world, representing around 49.5 per cent of the global population, around 40 per cent of the global GDP and around 26 per cent of the global trade.
Health ministers of South Africa, Indonesia, and Belarus, deputy health ministers of Egypt and Iran, and first deputy minister of health, Russia, are among those taking part in the ministerial meeting here.
Nadda stated that under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has undertaken transformative reforms to strengthen its healthcare system through people-centric policies, expanded healthcare access, digital public infrastructure and enhanced service delivery.
He said India’s experience has reinforced the belief that resilient public health systems and equitable healthcare are essential for sustainable development across nations, according to an official statement.
Referring to India’s BRICS chairship theme, ‘Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability’, the Union minister emphasized that the future of global health depends on building resilient health systems capable of anticipating and responding effectively to emerging public health challenges.
Quoting the timeless Indian ethos ‘Sarve bhavantu sukhinah, sarve santu niramaya’, Nadda said that the highest purpose of public health is not merely to treat illness but to prevent disease and promote overall well-being.
Presenting India’s health priorities under its BRICS chairship, Nadda highlighted that BRICS countries collectively account for nearly half of the global tuberculosis burden and emphasized that continued strengthening of the BRICS TB Research Network would accelerate collaborative research, innovation, operational research and equitable access to new diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines, thereby contributing significantly to global TB elimination efforts.
He also underlined the importance of strengthening collaboration among BRICS Medical Products Regulatory Authorities and welcomed the release of the BRICS GxP White Paper, describing it as an important step towards enhancing regulatory excellence, harmonisation, capacity building and ensuring the quality, safety and efficacy of medical products.
Stressing the importance of preparedness against future health emergencies, Nadda welcomed the establishment of the sub-working group on the ‘BRICS Integrated Early Warning System for Prevention and Response to Mass Infectious Diseases’ and the adoption of its Terms of Reference as a significant milestone towards reinforcing regional and global health security.
Highlighting the transformative role of digital technologies in healthcare, Nadda noted that India’s experience through the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, Ayushman Arogya Mandirs and the E-Sanjeevani telemedicine platform has demonstrated the immense potential of digital public infrastructure to democratise healthcare delivery and improve access, particularly in remote and underserved areas.
He also welcomed the release of the BRICS Compendium on Digital Health Architecture for Continuum of Care including Access to Healthcare in Remote Areas, describing it as a valuable knowledge resource for facilitating cooperation, exchange of best practices and mutual learning among BRICS countries.
The minister further noted that the growing burden of lifestyle-related diseases and non-communicable diseases calls for greater emphasis on preventive healthcare and welcomed the launch of the BRICS Mission for Healthy Lifestyle along with the BRICS roadmap for Joint Initiative on Healthy Lifestyle Promotion (2026-2029), which seeks to promote healthy diets, regular physical activity, and evidence-based behavioural change across BRICS nations.
He further noted the deliberations on cooperation in BRICS Nuclear Medicine and continued support for the activities of the BRICS Vaccine Research and Development Centre to strengthen collaborative research and improve equitable access to essential medical products.
Expressing appreciation to all member countries for sharing best practices across the identified priority areas, Nadda welcomed the release of a series of BRICS Compendiums on Digital Health Architecture, Healthy Lifestyle, and Mental Wellness, among others.
He expressed confidence that these knowledge resources would facilitate cross-country learning and support scalable public health interventions across BRICS member states, the statement said.
