Strengthening cooperation and exchange with BRICS countries key to advance priority health commitments, PAHO Director says – PAHO/WHO

Brasilia, Brazil, June 17, 2025 (PAHO) – The director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, has requested joint efforts and new associations to address the priorities described in the BRICS Health Agenda, including innovation, equity, food systems for healthy diets and pandemic preparation.

«BRICS countries are not only economic and political powers, but also public health leaders,» said Dr. Barbos during the opening ceremony of the 15th Meeting of Ministers of Health Brics, in Brasilia, Brazil today. «Together, their countries represent more than 40% of the world’s population, and their advances in health coverage, epidemic response and local innovation have global relevance.»

For the director of the PAHO, the countries of the Americas, particularly in Latin America and the Caribbean, face structural challenges similar to BRICS countries and are working towards aligned health priorities, even by approaching the burden of non -communicable diseases, modernizing health systems, the preparation of the impacts of climate change in health, digital health and innovation of innovation of communicable disease The healthiest diet.

«These shared objectives have a clear opportunity for BRIC and the countries of the Americas to learn with each other, collaborate more deeply and develop the tools and solutions necessary to protect health and development of development,» he said.

«Paho is totally committed to supporting regional and global initiatives that raise health as a driver of economic opportunity and social inclusion,» added the director, underlining the role of the organization as a strategic partner.

The 15th Meeting of Health Ministers of Ministers BRICS, held on June 17, brought together ministers of health and other high -level authorities of the following countries: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Cuba, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria and the Emirates of the United Arabs.

During the meeting, BRICs delegates also approved a statement to strengthen health cooperation. According to the statement, countries will work together to address global health challenges, include southern global collaboration.

Other focus areas include the strengthening of local and regional production of medicines, vaccines and health supplies; Accelerate health equity through the elimination of socially determined diseases; guarantee equitable access to innovations related to tuberculosis; Voluntary regulatory convergence advance; expand health research; promote the research and development of vaccines; strengthen artificial intelligence in medical care; and promote sustainable and resistant health infrastructure.

«I would especially like thanks [for their support to BRICS] The World Health Organization (WHO) and Paho, represented here by Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, ”said Brazil’s Minister Alexandre Padilha, after the approval of the statement.

Address non -communicable diseases

During the ministerial meeting, Dr. Barbosa also participated in a high -level event on the promotion of adequate and healthy food practices and their contributions to the prevention of non -communicable chronic conditions.

Worldwide, EV, including cardiovascular diseases, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes, are responsible for approximately 71% of all deaths, many of which can be prevented. However, although the world has seen a dramatic and sustained increase in the burden of ETCs «less than 2% of the official development assistance is assigned to the NCDs,» said the director of the PAHO.

«The unhealthy diets: rich in trans fats, saturated fats, free sugars and sodium, and poor in whole grains, fruits, legumes and vegetables) are a central conductor of the NCD epidemic,» he added.

These diets are driven by the global increase in ultraprocessed foods, whose aggressive marketing has «fed a rapid nutritional transmission in high -income countries,» said Dr. Barbosa.

To address these problems, the director of the PAHO and the BRICS countries shared key experiences and lessons learned to prevent non -communicable diseases, such as the warning labels of the package front, the taxes of the sugary drinks and the unhealthy food marketing regulation.