India flags mental health, lifestyle diseases as new BRICS priorities | India News
New Delhi: India on Wednesday proposed a stronger focus on mental health and healthy lifestyles under its BRICS chairmanship, as it hosted the first Health Working Group meeting for 2026 in the capital.The meeting brought together senior health officials from BRICS — a group of major emerging economies including Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, along with partner countries — to discuss cooperation on key public health challenges.
Highlighting a preventive and people-centred approach, India introduced two new priority areas – a BRICS mission to promote healthy lifestyles and mental health and well-being – aimed at addressing risk factors such as unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, tobacco use and stress.Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava said the Health Working Group will focus on building resilient and adaptive health systems through collaboration, mutual learning and evidence-based policy-making, recognizing the diverse needs of member countries.The discussions also reiterated ongoing priorities including the BRICS TB Research Network, cooperation in medical product regulation, digital health systems and early warning systems for infectious diseases.Officials emphasized strengthening health systems, improving access to affordable medicines and vaccines, and increasing cooperation in research and innovation.Member countries expressed support for India’s proposed priorities and highlighted the need for deeper collaboration on tuberculosis, equitable access to health technology and addressing broader social determinants of health.The meeting concluded with agreement on a roadmap for future engagement under the BRICS Health Track 2026, which focuses on cooperation, innovation and strengthening of public health systems in member countries.
