BRICS Delhi Declaration enshrines new areas of cooperation in healthcare
Published 14 September 2026
Last update 16 September 2026
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On 12–13 September 2026, the XVIII BRICS Summit was held in New Delhi under India's chairmanship. Following the summit, the New Delhi Declaration was adopted, with a separate section dedicated to the development of cooperation in the field of healthcare.
In addition to the BRICS states, partner countries and invited states participated in the summit. From the CIS countries, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan were represented.
What Was Included in the Health Agenda
The initiatives were agreed at the BRICS Health Ministers' Meeting in Chandigarh in July, and the declaration enshrined them at the level of leaders:
— expanding interaction between regulatory authorities in the field of medicines and other medical products;
— developing digital health and the application of artificial intelligence;
— developing local production of medical products, joint research, and improving access to medicines, vaccines, and diagnostic technologies;
— launching the BRICS Mission for Healthy Lifestyle and a roadmap for joint work for 2026–2029;
— developing the BRICS Network of National Public Health Institutes;
— continuing the work of the BRICS Vaccine R&D Centre and BRICS TB Research Network;
— establishing the BRICS Network of Centres of Excellence on Mental Wellness;
— developing cooperation in the field of nuclear medicine and traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine;
— developing the BRICS Health Journal as a common scientific platform for the association's countries.
Regulatory Cooperation
One of the most specific directions was the work of medicines regulators.
The BRICS countries supported the expansion of the existing Memorandum of Cooperation in the field of medical product regulation to all states of the association and further convergence of regulatory approaches.
Work also continues on the BRICS GxP White Paper. The available version of the document includes materials on good clinical practice, clinical trial safety, and regulatory reliance approaches.
The document is focused on the exchange of regulatory experience and the gradual convergence of BRICS countries' approaches.
Digital Health and Artificial Intelligence
Considerable attention was paid to digital health.
The countries prepared the BRICS Compendium on Digital Health Architecture for Continuum of Care, including Access to Healthcare in Remote Areas. The document compares the digital health ecosystems of the BRICS countries and identifies directions for further cooperation.
Among them are the interoperability of medical information systems, open standards, secure exchange of medical data, data governance, cybersecurity, and the development of digital infrastructure to ensure continuity and accessibility of medical care.
Separate attention is paid to the responsible application of artificial intelligence, workforce training, and joint research.
New Cooperation Networks
In the field of mental health, the BRICS Network of Centres of Excellence on Mental Wellness was established. The Indian NIMHANS was designated as the coordinating centre. The network will develop joint research, exchange of practices, and expert interaction.
Cooperation in the field of nuclear medicine continues within the framework of the BRICS Nuclear Medicine Working Group, including research, exchange of expertise, and the development of radiopharmaceutical technologies.
BRICS Health Journal
The New Delhi Declaration separately noted the role of the BRICS Health Journal as a common scientific platform of the association.
The journal was established in 2024; its founder is Sechenov University, and its Editor-in-Chief is the Minister of Health of the Russian Federation, Mikhail Murashko.
In addition to the BRICS states, partner countries and invited states participated in the summit. From the CIS countries, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan were represented.
What Was Included in the Health AgendaThe initiatives were agreed at the BRICS Health Ministers' Meeting in Chandigarh in July, and the declaration enshrined them at the level of leaders:
— expanding interaction between regulatory authorities in the field of medicines and other medical products;
— developing digital health and the application of artificial intelligence;
— developing local production of medical products, joint research, and improving access to medicines, vaccines, and diagnostic technologies;
— launching the BRICS Mission for Healthy Lifestyle and a roadmap for joint work for 2026–2029;
— developing the BRICS Network of National Public Health Institutes;
— continuing the work of the BRICS Vaccine R&D Centre and BRICS TB Research Network;
— establishing the BRICS Network of Centres of Excellence on Mental Wellness;
— developing cooperation in the field of nuclear medicine and traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine;
— developing the BRICS Health Journal as a common scientific platform for the association's countries.
Regulatory CooperationOne of the most specific directions was the work of medicines regulators.
The BRICS countries supported the expansion of the existing Memorandum of Cooperation in the field of medical product regulation to all states of the association and further convergence of regulatory approaches.
Work also continues on the BRICS GxP White Paper. The available version of the document includes materials on good clinical practice, clinical trial safety, and regulatory reliance approaches.
The document is focused on the exchange of regulatory experience and the gradual convergence of BRICS countries' approaches.
Digital Health and Artificial IntelligenceConsiderable attention was paid to digital health.
The countries prepared the BRICS Compendium on Digital Health Architecture for Continuum of Care, including Access to Healthcare in Remote Areas. The document compares the digital health ecosystems of the BRICS countries and identifies directions for further cooperation.
Among them are the interoperability of medical information systems, open standards, secure exchange of medical data, data governance, cybersecurity, and the development of digital infrastructure to ensure continuity and accessibility of medical care.
Separate attention is paid to the responsible application of artificial intelligence, workforce training, and joint research.
New Cooperation NetworksIn the field of mental health, the BRICS Network of Centres of Excellence on Mental Wellness was established. The Indian NIMHANS was designated as the coordinating centre. The network will develop joint research, exchange of practices, and expert interaction.
Cooperation in the field of nuclear medicine continues within the framework of the BRICS Nuclear Medicine Working Group, including research, exchange of expertise, and the development of radiopharmaceutical technologies.
BRICS Health JournalThe New Delhi Declaration separately noted the role of the BRICS Health Journal as a common scientific platform of the association.
The journal was established in 2024; its founder is Sechenov University, and its Editor-in-Chief is the Minister of Health of the Russian Federation, Mikhail Murashko.
