What’s on the Agenda for BRICS Health Cooperation in 2026? Insights from the First Meeting
BRICS Health Working Group Kicks Off 2026 Agenda
New Delhi: The inaugural Health Working Group (HWG) meeting under the BRICS framework for 2026 took place on Wednesday, uniting senior health officials and representatives from nine member countries to enhance collaboration on vital public health issues, including tuberculosis research, digital health systems, and mental health initiatives.
This virtual gathering, led by Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava, included participants from Brazil, Russia, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates, and Indonesia, showcasing the diverse geographical representation of the expanded BRICS membership.
As the BRICS Chair for 2026, India has centered its presidency around the theme of 'Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, and Sustainability,' reflecting a people-focused approach emphasized by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the 2025 Rio Summit.
This theme will guide India's health diplomacy throughout the year, focusing on inclusive, evidence-based, and scalable health cooperation tailored to various national contexts.
Health Secretary Srivastava noted that previous BRICS Health Working Group meetings have facilitated collaboration on urgent health issues, such as communicable and non-communicable diseases, health system strengthening, and enhancing access to affordable medications.
Additionally, she introduced two new priority initiatives under India's leadership.
The first initiative is the BRICS Mission for Healthy Lifestyles, which aims to encourage healthy habits and address significant risk factors like poor diets, lack of physical activity, tobacco use, and excessive alcohol consumption.
The second initiative focuses on Mental Health and Wellness Promotion, which seeks to enhance mental health services, reduce stigma, and incorporate mental health into mainstream public health strategies.
Both initiatives received widespread support from the delegations present.
Countries such as Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Indonesia expressed strong endorsement for these new priorities, along with support for integrating traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine into national health frameworks.
The meeting also discussed nine key focus areas for the BRICS Health Working Group in 2026, including the BRICS TB Research Network, collaboration among BRICS medical product regulatory authorities, an integrated early warning system for infectious diseases, and digital health infrastructure to ensure care reaches remote areas.
The agenda reflects a comprehensive approach, addressing everything from scientific research and regulatory alignment to social health determinants and digital health infrastructure.
Member nations reiterated their commitment to universal health coverage, equitable access to health technologies, local production of medicines and vaccines, and enhancing pandemic preparedness as shared objectives.
Strengthening collaboration on tuberculosis through the BRICS TB Research Network and advancing the integrated early warning system for infectious diseases were identified as immediate priorities requiring tangible outcomes.