BRICS nations have significantly enhanced their commitment to global health security by endorsing the launch of the BRICS Partnership for the Elimination of Socially Determined Diseases (SDDs). This initiative, announced at the 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro, is a crucial step towards advancing collective efforts to eliminate diseases whose occurrence is intrinsically linked to health inequities and disproportionately affects vulnerable populations, such as Tuberculosis (TB), malaria, and other diseases of poverty.
The partnership emphasizes a multisectoral approach, focusing on strengthening resilient health systems, ensuring equitable access to essential services, and expanding cross-sectoral efforts to address the social, economic, and environmental determinants of health. It also specifically recognizes and builds upon existing infrastructure, such as the BRICS Vaccine Research and Development (R&D) Center, which has been operational since 2022. The Center’s role is to leverage the complementary advantages of member countries in vaccine research, development, and production, aiming to provide timely and affordable assistance to developing countries worldwide.
To drive this agenda, BRICS members are committed to expanding collaborative research, innovation, and technology transfer, using knowledge-sharing as a key strategy. The bloc recognizes that health is a fundamental human right, and through this partnership, it seeks to mobilize resources, potentially involving the New Development Bank (NDB), to finance projects for new diagnostics, treatments, and vaccines, thereby positioning itself as a leader in global health diplomacy and health equity for the Global South.
