BRICS Health Ministers Meet in Moscow

The 14th Meeting of BRICS Ministers of Health took place in Moscow under the chairship of Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko on 11 October 2024 as part of Russia’s chairship of BRICS.

Meeting participants spoke to medical students about organizing healthcare, delivering a lecture titled ‘BRICS for Future Generations: Overcoming Modern Challenges and Threats to Healthcare’, got a closer look at the work of top Russian medical facilities, and laid flowers at the monument to the doctors on the front lines of the battle against COVID-19. The Russian Health Minister held bilateral meetings with BRICS Ministers of Health.

The 14th Meeting of BRICS Ministers of Health hosted discussions on the challenges and threats facing healthcare in BRICS, as well as the outlook for cooperation in such new areas as nuclear medicine, combatting antimicrobial resistance, and public healthcare. Serious attention also was paid to the establishment of BRICS Medical Journal and BRICS Medical Association, the creation of Integrated Early Warning System for Preventing the Risk of Mass Infectious Diseases in BRICS, the BRICS Tuberculosis Research Network and BRICS R&D Vaccine Centre, and regulatory cooperation.

Mikhail Murashko also drew attention to BRICS successful development and the fact that it united 46% of the world’s population. New members further strengthened BRICS uniqueness and facilitated greater interaction between different countries and cultures and joint solutions in the interests of improved healthcare.

“All this is based on equal rights, with respect for one another, as we seek to balance interests. Despite the difficulties, new challenges and threats to the healthcare systems of our countries, we always manage to find ways to compromise, to find new answers together, to work together on new initiatives. Today’s meeting of ministers is the best confirmation of BRICS commitment to ensure the right of all to the highest possible standard of physical and mental health,” the Minister said.

The meeting produced joint decisions and adopted the declaration, which consolidated the various initiatives for a review at the BRICS Summit on 22–24 October 2024.

“As part of Russia’s chairship, we are continuing vaccine research through the BRICS Centre and creating a common vaccine space for our nations,” Mikhail Murashko said.

According to the Russian Minister, it is important that BRICS member states continue to intensify joint preventive initiatives against infectious disease. As the Minister went on to elaborate, the Integrated Early Warning System is a part of a coordinated strategy for early response to threats associated with new infectious diseases with the potential for mass spread within BRICS.

Participants also discussed the importance of joint measures against antibiotic resistance.

“A new infectious threat has appeared on BRICS radar this year – antimicrobial resistance. The WHO has ranked it among the top 10 public health threats facing humanity,” the Russian Minister noted.

Mikhail Murashko also spoke of the development of nuclear medicine as an essential part of the high-tech, personalized approach to diagnostics and the treatment of diseases.

Deputy Foreign Minister and Russian Sherpa in BRICS Sergey Ryabkov welcomed the participants of the meeting, noting how in recent years the health sector had proven to be a rich and productive area for cooperation within BRICS. He also emphasized the wide range of issues covered by BRICS cooperation in healthcare, from public health to nuclear medicine in light of Russia’s chairship of BRICS this year and the efforts of the Russian Ministry of Health and the Minister himself.

While meeting with BRICS health ministers, Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko spoke of the creation of a BRICS Medical Journal, the publication of its first issue was timed to coincide with the event.

“The BRICS Medical Journal has the potential to make our successes in healthcare known on a wider scale and confirm BRICS position on the cutting edge of innovative ideas by bringing them to the greater world and scientific community,” Mikhail Murashko said.

The journal’s editorial board consists of prominent health practitioners and researchers from across BRICS.

The Roscongress Foundation manages the events of Russia’s BRICS chairship.