BRICS members pool expertise for universal health coverage: Report

New Delhi, Aug 8 (IANS) BRICS health ministers’ recent declaration committed the bloc to deeper cooperation in health care, and pooled expertise for collectively working towards achieving universal health coverage (UHC), a new report has said.

“By pooling expertise, BRICS is laying the foundations for more accessible, affordable and resilient health care for billions of people across the global south,” the report from South Africa-based publication The Citizen said.

With delegates from over 70 representatives and partner organisations endorsing nine priority areas including mental health, tuberculosis control, pandemic preparedness, traditional medicine and nuclear medicine, the 16th BRICS health ministers’ declaration saw measurable outcomes.

At the gathering chaired by India in Chandigarh, the adoption of the 16th BRICS health ministers’ declaration builds on an earlier pledge by member states to work collectively towards achieving UHC.

Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Jagat Prakash Nadda, stressed strengthening collective action as “enhanced cooperation would strengthen public health systems, accelerate digital health care solutions and improve access to medical services across member states.”

He noted India’s experience had shown resilient health systems and equitable health care access to be essential pillars of sustainable development.

Among the bloc, Brazil has made the most progress with free health care under its Unified Health System, the report said, while India’s Ayushman Bharat remains one of the world’s largest publicly funded insurance schemes.

Brazil provides free health care to all residents and visitors through its Unified Health System. Russia operates a state-backed mandatory health insurance model built around an extensive public health care network. China has achieved near-universal basic health coverage through government-supported insurance schemes.

“India has also made significant advances through sustained policy reforms, infrastructure investment and increased public health expenditure,” the South-African media house said.

Programmes such as the National Rural Health Mission have strengthened primary healthcare, while government-funded insurance schemes support economically disadvantaged citizens at accredited public and private hospitals, it added.

—IANS

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