BRICS Health Push: How Member Nations are Working Towards Universal Health Coverage

By Gobind Arora

The BRICS countries are joining hands to improve healthcare access and move closer to universal health coverage. At the 16th BRICS Health Ministers’ meeting in Chandigarh, members agreed to strengthen cooperation in areas such as mental health, tuberculosis, pandemic preparedness, digital healthcare, traditional medicine and nuclear medicine. The aim is simple: make healthcare more accessible, affordable and stronger for people across member nations.

What Did BRICS Agree On?

The 16th BRICS Health Ministers’ Declaration focuses on deeper cooperation between member countries. More than 70 representatives and partner organisations took part in the discussions. Nine priority areas were endorsed, with universal health coverage remaining one of the main goals.

The idea behind this cooperation is practical. Countries can share their experience, technology and healthcare methods instead of working separately. This could help them respond better to health emergencies and improve services for ordinary people.

Why Does Universal Health Coverage Matter?

Universal health coverage means people should be able to get the healthcare they need without facing serious financial pressure. For many families, the cost of treatment can become a major burden. Better public healthcare systems and affordable insurance can help reduce that pressure.

The recent BRICS health declaration is aimed at building stronger systems that can continue working even during major health crises. It also looks at improving access to medical services in different parts of society.

India’s Role Is Important

India has highlighted its own experience in expanding healthcare access. Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda said stronger cooperation could improve public health systems, digital healthcare and access to medical services across BRICS countries.

India has introduced several large healthcare programmes over the years. Ayushman Bharat is one of the biggest publicly funded health insurance initiatives in the world. The National Rural Health Mission has also helped strengthen primary healthcare, particularly in rural areas.

These experiences can offer useful lessons to other developing nations dealing with similar healthcare challenges.

What Can Other BRICS Nations Learn?

BRICS members already have different healthcare models. Brazil provides free healthcare through its Unified Health System. Russia follows a state-backed mandatory health insurance model supported by a large public healthcare network. China has also reached near-universal basic health coverage through government-supported insurance schemes.

Sharing these experiences could help countries identify what works best for their own populations. There is no single healthcare model that fits every nation, but cooperation can make reforms faster and more effective.

A Bigger Health Goal Ahead

The latest BRICS health cooperation shows that healthcare is becoming an important area of collaboration among member countries. From pandemic readiness to digital services and mental health, the focus is moving beyond treatment alone.

The larger goal is to create healthcare systems that are affordable, accessible and ready for future challenges. If BRICS nations continue sharing knowledge and resources, their combined efforts could improve healthcare for millions of people across the Global South.

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