The BRICS Health Ministers Meeting took place on May 19, 2015, in Geneva, Switzerland, on the sidelines of the 68th World Health Assembly. The meeting was attended by health ministers from Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, who gathered to discuss and coordinate policies on shared global health issues.During the meeting, the Indian Health Minister, Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda, delivered an address highlighting the significance of BRICS collaboration in health. He emphasized the potential of BRICS countries to improve health outcomes through collective efforts and policy coherence. Nadda pointed out the achievements of BRICS nations in universal health coverage and the provision of low-cost medicines and vaccines, which have contributed to significant improvements in health and progress towards the Millennium Development Goals. He called for continued momentum and collaboration in areas such as non-communicable diseases, antimicrobial resistance, neglected tropical diseases, HIV-AIDS, and tuberculosis.

Key Participants

• Brazil: Arthur Chioro, Minister of Health
• Russia: Veronika Skvortsova, Minister of Healthcare
• India: Jagat Prakash Nadda, Minister of Health and Family Welfare
• China: Li Bin, Minister of National Health and Family Planning Commission
• South Africa: Aaron Motsoaledi, Minister of Health

Main Agenda Items

1. Universal Health Coverage
2. Antimicrobial Resistance
3. Non-Communicable Diseases
4. Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS
5. Neglected Tropical Diseases
6. Access to Medicines and Vaccines
7. Health Technology Assessment
8. Traditional Medicine

Highlights of the Meeting

1. Universal Health Coverage

The ministers reaffirmed their commitment to achieving universal health coverage in their respective countries and shared best practices and challenges.

2. Antimicrobial Resistance

Recognizing the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance, the BRICS countries agreed to collaborate on research and development of new antibiotics and to promote responsible use of existing ones.

3. Traditional Medicine

The ministers acknowledged the importance of traditional medicine systems and agreed to promote research and integration of traditional medicine with modern healthcare systems.

4. Access to Medicines

The group discussed strategies to improve access to affordable medicines, including the use of TRIPS flexibilities and promotion of generic drugs.

Outcomes and Commitments

1. Establishment of a BRICS working group on health technology assessment
2. Agreement to set up a BRICS network of tuberculosis research institutions
3. Commitment to strengthen regulatory cooperation for medical products
4. Decision to explore the creation of a BRICS Vaccine Research and Development Centre

Significance

This meeting was particularly important as it took place just months before the United Nations would adopt the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in September 2015. The BRICS countries’ alignment on health issues was seen as crucial for the successful implementation of health-related SDGs.

Follow-up Actions

The ministers agreed to meet again in 2016 to review progress on the commitments made and to further strengthen cooperation in the health sector among BRICS nations.This expanded information provides a more comprehensive overview of the 2015 BRICS Health Ministers Meeting, highlighting its significance in global health diplomacy and policy-making.