“Declaration of the X Meeting of BRICS Ministers of Health,” held on November 11, 2020, via videoconferencing, chaired by the Russian Federation, under the theme “Era of COVID -19: Global BRICS Solidarity for Health Safety”:

We, the Ministers of Health of the Federative Republic of Brazil, the Russian Federation, the Republic of India, the People’s Republic of China, and the Republic of South Africa, met on 11 November 2020, via videoconferencing at the X Meeting of BRICS Ministers of Health chaired by the Russian Federation. The Meeting was held under the theme “Era of COVID -19: Global BRICS Solidarity for Health Safety”:

1. We have to admit that the COVID -19 pandemic is the greatest global challenge of the beginning of the 21st Century that already went down in history along with smallpox, cholera, plague, and other diseases. Drawing the appropriate conclusions, we are determined to prevent further mass spread of the COVID -19, the occurrence of communicable diseases and epidemics development through a comprehensive response based on unity, solidarity, and enhanced multilateral cooperation.
2. We exchanged country-level information on the situation related to the spread of COVID -19 and best practices in fighting it, in order to collect and exchange data, as well as analyze statistical information to find the best ways to stop diseases. Discussed joint initiatives aimed at ensuring public health safety, as well as key priorities for further enhancing and strengthening BRICS interaction.
3. We note that today the world community has a “COVID -19 precedent” that claimed the lives of many people and caused serious damage to the health of our population. We recall the BRICS Ufa Declaration 2015 and reaffirm the need to create a comprehensive approach and develop international cooperation in the field of prevention and response to situations threatening international safety in the area of public health. To achieve this goal, we mark the importance of sharing reliable and accurate data concerning the occurrence and spread of communicable diseases with the potential of becoming epidemics, as well as information, scientific knowledge, and advanced experience in the field of prevention and treatment.
4. We take note of the Russian proposal of an Integrated Early Warning System for preventing mass infectious diseases risks, in accordance with the IHR, for further consideration and discussion. We also welcome the publication of the consolidated document “BRICS Countries measures taken in the field of healthcare to counter the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID -19).” We support the idea of involving the New Development Bank to explore the possibility of funding the Integrated System as part for preventing the spread of infectious diseases that have the potential for adverse medical and economic consequences, including the COVID -19 pandemic, for the BRICS countries.
5. In times of COVID -19 pandemic, while maintaining the spirit of trust and partnership of the BRICS countries, we agree to continue to support the prevention and treatment of communicable and non-communicable diseases and affirm the importance of ensuring the right to universal and equal access to health technologies through sharing of knowledge, intellectual property, and data necessary for COVID -19 detection, prevention, treatment, and response, taking into account different national conditions, strategies, priorities, and possibilities.
6. We recall our Declaration of the IX Meeting of BRICS Ministers of Health (Curitiba, Brazil, October 25, 2019) on the Memorandum of Understanding – between the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation, the Federal Service for Surveillance in Healthcare; and the National Health Regulatory Agency (ANVISA) of the Federative Republic of Brazil; the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) of the Republic of India; the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) of the People’s Republic of China; and the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) of the Republic of South Africa on cooperation in the field of regulation of medical products for human use and support continued engagement in this regard.
7. We note the BRICS countries’ success in the last years in the fight against tuberculosis (TB) and, at the same time, recognize the impact of COVID -19 on diagnosis and treatment. For this reason, we highlight the need to strengthen the national TB strategies through a robust funding. We welcome the results of the 7th, 8th and 9th meetings of the BRICS TB Research Network, held in 2020, chaired by the Russian Federation with the Secretariat support of the WHO Global Tuberculosis Program (March 5 -6, June 18, and October 2), which are reflected in the Final Statement of the 9th Meeting of the BRICS TB Research Network.

8. We agreed the fight against the COVID -19 pandemic requires further decisive, coordinated, and inclusive multilateral efforts with the central role of the United Nations system, in accordance with the 73rd session of the World Health Assembly RES/ WHA 73.1 “COVID -19 response” and with the 74th session of the UN General Assembly A/RES/74/306 “Comprehensive and coordinated response to the coronavirus disease (COVID -19) pandemic.” In this regard, we note the effective interaction with the World Health Organization, other international organizations, and associations in the fight against the COVID -19.

   9. We express our sincere gratitude to all healthcare workers, doctors, nurses, staff of infectious diseases hospitals and other hospitals, clinics, dispensaries, ambulance services, and researchers who with honor fulfill their professional duty under dangerous and difficult conditions due to the COVID -19 pandemic and risking their health, helping other people.
   10. We look forward to the upcoming BRICS Health Ministers Meeting in 2021, hosted by India, and remain committed to further strengthening our collaboration in the health sector to ensure the well-being of our populations and contribute to global health security.

   Done at Moscow, Russian Federation, on the 11th day of November, 2020.

   For the Federative Republic of Brazil:
   Minister of Health, Luiz Henrique Mandetta

   For the Russian Federation:
   Minister of Health, Mikhail Murashko

   For the Republic of India:
   Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Harsh Vardhan

   For the People’s Republic of China:
   Minister of National Health Commission, Ma Xiaowei

   For the Republic of South Africa:
   Minister of Health, Dr. Zweli Mkhize