Under Brazilian leadership, BRICS proposes Global Alliance to eliminate inequalities-related diseases
With focus on health equity, Brasil proposes an integrated agenda for the BRICS to combat socially determined diseases, such as tuberculosis and child diarrhea, which affect vulnerable populations. The initiative includes cooperation in research, vaccine production, and multi-sectoral policies inspired by Programa Brasil Saudável.
By Inez Mustafa | inez.mustafa@presidencia.gov.br
With focus on human and social development, cooperation on health has been a central theme at the BRICS. Under the Brazilian Presidency, the countries will present initiatives that aim to eliminate socially determined diseases and infections (SDD) and neglected tropical diseases (NTD).
Through integrated and collaborative strategies among member countries, the BRICS group promotes initiatives to eradicate SDDs, both domestically and externally. Under the Brazilian Presidency of the group, one of the health cooperation measures of the BRICS is the formalization of the Alliance for the Elimination of Socially Determined and Neglected Tropical Diseases.
"We want cooperation on health issues to benefit not only member countries but also help improve treatment for these diseases in multilateral forums like the UN and the WHO," he stated.
Socially Determined Diseases
Neglected Tropical Diseases
Main cause
Social determinants in health (poverty, inequality, lack of sanitation)
Transmitted by vectors or specific pathogens (insects, parasites, bacteria)
Examples
Tuberculosis, cardiovascular diseases, child diarrhea
Chagas disease, schistosomiasis, filariasis
Main solution
Social and equity policies in health
Medication development, vector control, access to treatment
Information from Brasil’s Ministry of Health
Alexandre Ghisleni, Head of the Special Advisory on International Affairs at Brasil’s Ministry of Health, highlighted that the initiative already counts on important precedents. "Domestically, the work we have been doing in Brasil has materialized in a positive impact in combating socially determined diseases," he stated. As an example, he mentioned studies that show how the Bolsa Família has contributed to a reduction of up to 40% of the cases of tuberculosis in the country, serving as inspiration for similar policies in other countries, like India.
A Holistic and Sustainable Approach
Despite measures to control and prevent these diseases, they continue to pose public health challenges for vulnerable populations with lower social and economic indicators, limited access to clean water, and inadequate basic sanitation, reflecting the social determinants of health. Under the Brazilian Presidency, health cooperation among BRICS countries will prioritize promoting equity —particularly in the context of treatment, diagnosis, and vaccines— and developing emerging health technologies.
Ghisleni explained that the approach proposed by Brazil has a broad and holistic scope. “We must set an agenda that not only fosters interrelations among different sectors but also works toward a shared, greater goal: strengthening and building resilient national health systems based on equity criteria,” he said. The priorities include professional health training, harmonization of regulatory frameworks, research on tuberculosis, vaccine production, and the development of intelligent hospitals.
Healthy Brasil Program
This priority of the Brazilian agenda at the BRICS in line with the country’s domestic ambitions. In 2024, the Brazilian Government launched the Programa Brasil Saudável (“Healthy Brasil Program”), which aims to eliminate socially determined diseases by addressing the need to reduce social and economic inequalities. In this sense, the programmatic actions go beyond the health sector, promoting a constant dialogue with other government sectors related to housing, income, access to basic sanitation, and education.
Ghisleni underscored the innovative and multi-sectoral aspects of Programa Brasil Saudável. "More than ten ministries are working together to address the policy to eliminate these diseases from the most varied perspectives and with social participation," he explained. The Special Advisor also highlighted that the program is a source of inspiration for the proposal to eliminate socially determined diseases within the BRICS and that other countries have been showing interest in replicating or adapting these strategies.
Concrete Impacts and Future Expectations
Cooperation among BRICS nations helps to promote equity in global health, particularly in resource-limited regions, by eliminating diseases as public health threats and enhancing the effectiveness of interventions. Ghisleni added that this collaboration strengthens health services and systems of education, sanitation, and surveillance, enabling them to respond more effectively to health emergencies and crises.
Regarding the formalization of the Alliance for the Elimination of SDDs and NTDs, Ghisleni highlighted that expectations are high. “The alliance can strengthen the treatment of domestic systems and raise the visibility of these issues in the multilateral arena,” he stated. He also mentioned the possibility of creating research networks for developing new drugs, vaccines, and medications, as well as for training and mobilizing health workforces to address the needs of member countries and foster cooperation among them.
The Potential of the BRICS in Global Health
The BRICS represents about 48.5% of the world’s population and 39% of global GDP. Ghisleni emphasized the bloc’s significant geopolitical weight and noted that cooperation in health could serve as a model for other countries. "We want cooperation on health issues to benefit not only member countries but also help improve treatment for these diseases in multilateral forums like the UN and the WHO," he stated.