Geneva, Tuesday, 19 May 2015

1. The BRICS countries, represented by the Heads of the Delegation of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, met on 19th May 2015 on the sidelines of the 68th session of the World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland.
2. Recalled the Communique of the BRICS Health Ministers Meetings in Brasilia on 5th December 2014 and Beijing and Delhi Declaration and the cape Town Communique of the BRICS Health Ministers in Geneva in 2011 and 2013 and the Joint Communique of the BRICS Health Ministers in Geneva on 20th May 2013 on the sidelines of the 66th session of the World Health Assembly, in which they committed to strengthen intra-BRICS cooperation for promoting health of the BRICS population. They resolved to continue cooperation in the sphere of health through the Technical Working Groups and the “BRICS Framework for Collaboration on Strategic Projects in Health”.
3. Expressed grave concern about the impact of the Ebola outbreak in West African countries and their sadness at the loss of lives and the suffering it inflicted. In addition, expressed deep condolences for the people and government of Nepal for the lives lost in the recent earthquake.
4. Reiterated their commitment to collaborate in key thematic areas focusing on strengthening health surveillance systems; reducing Non-Communicable disease (NCD) risk factors through prevention and health technologies, with a focus on communicable and non-communicable diseases; medical technologies; and drug discovery and development.
5. Noted the significance and relevance of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), in particular the health-related MDGs. The called upon UN member States to give due consideration to health as an important issue in the discussions of the post-2015 development agenda. Emphasized that discussions on access and Universal Health Coverage must encompass strengthening national health systems,including the development of affordable health care platforms and addressing human resources for health, which are essential for the fulfillment of the right to health and wellbeing for all.
6. Noted the significance of reaching the health-related MDGs, through their inclusion in Sustainable Development Goals together with injuries and non-communicable diseases, by strengthening public health emergency response system.
7. Emphasized the importance and need of technology transfer as means to empower developing countries. They underlined the importance of ensuring access to affordable, quality, efficacious and safe medical products, including generic medicines, biological products, and diagnostics, through the use of TRIPS flexibilities, for the realization of the right to health. They also renewed commitment to strengthening international cooperation in health, and South-South cooperation in particular, with a view to supporting efforts in developing countries to promote health for all.
8. Reiterated their support for the development of a cooperation plan for tuberculosis and welcomed discussions to develop the operational framework of the aforementioned planed in 2015 and discussed and agreed at the 4th meeting of Ministers of Health of the BRICS in Brazil.
9. Acknowledged the unique role of WHO and advancing the global health agenda. They reiterated their support to current discussions on the progress of reform of WHO so as to better respond to global challenges in programmatic, organizational and operational terms. The reaffirmed the intergovernmental nature of WHO, and reiterated their commitment to preserve WHO as the coordinating and leading authority in global health.
10. Reiterated their support to the full implementation of WHO Global Strategy and Plan of Action on Public Health, Innovation and Intellectual Property, which gave rise to the Consultative Expert Working Group on Research and Development, and, in this context, drew attention to WHA Resolutions WHA66.22 and WHA65.24 with specific reference to demonstration projects. They further welcomed the implementation of 7 R&D demonstration projects to address identified health gaps that disproportionately affect developing countries,particularly the poor, for which immediate action can be taken, as well as the establishment of Global health and Development Observatory within WHO. The also understood that the discussion on mechanisms for financial contributions to health research and development should be fully transparent and inclusive, which broad engagement of all relevant stakeholders.
11. They also expressed their support for the extension of the timeframes of the global plan of action on public health, innovation and intellectual property adopted by resolution WGA62.16, from 2015 to 2022, as well as to comprehensive evaluation and overall programme review of the document by experts appointed by Member States.
12. Reiterated their commitment to use TRIPS flexibilities to promote access to medicines, foster innovation and share these experiences with other developing countries.
13. Resolved to continue cooperation in the sphere of health through the “BRICS Framework for Collaboration on Strategic Projects in Health” and support the finalization of the BRICS Monitoring and Evaluation Tool for Access and Universal Health Coverage.