India chairs BRICS health meet, pitches lifestyle, mental health focus

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Cooperation areas

Source: Lokmat Times | Original Published At: 2026-04-15 15:59:37 UTC

India convened the first BRICS Health Working Group meeting for 2026 in New Delhi, chaired by Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava.
Senior health officials from nine member nations participated, reflecting the expanded BRICS membership across four continents.
India proposed two new priority areas: a BRICS Mission for Healthy Lifestyles and the Promotion of Mental Health and Wellness.
Member countries including Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Indonesia expressed support for integrating traditional and complementary medicine.
The meeting deliberated on nine priority areas including TB research, digital health architecture, and pandemic preparedness infrastructure.
India's 2026 BRICS presidency is anchored around the theme 'Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability'.