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BRICS has recognised obesity and non-communicable diseases as major global health challenges and backed a new Mission and roadmap to promote healthier lifestyles.
New Delhi Declaration: BRICS recognises obesity and NCDs as major global public health challenges. Image/ANI
BRICS leaders have recognised obesity and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) as major global public health challenges, calling for stronger preventive and promotive healthcare measures across member countries.
The recognition was part of the New Delhi Declaration adopted at the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi. The declaration stressed the need for a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to tackling the growing burden of lifestyle-related and chronic diseases.
As part of the commitment, BRICS leaders endorsed the launch of the BRICS Mission for Healthy Lifestyle and the BRICS Roadmap for the Joint Initiative on Healthy Lifestyle Promotion (2026–2029). They also welcomed a compendium of replicable best practices on healthy lifestyles, aimed at encouraging countries to share approaches that can be adapted to their respective national contexts.
Focus on Prevention and Healthy Lifestyles
The declaration places prevention at the centre of the BRICS health agenda, with an emphasis on promoting healthier lifestyles rather than focusing only on treating disease.
The move comes alongside broader BRICS efforts to strengthen cooperation in healthcare, including the exchange of experiences, innovations and best practices. The grouping has also reaffirmed its commitment to universal health coverage through resilient, inclusive and people-centred approaches.
Mental Health Also Gets Greater Focus
The declaration’s health agenda extends beyond obesity and NCDs. BRICS leaders also recognised mental well-being as an important pillar of health and sustainable development.
They supported the establishment of a BRICS Training Hub Network and a BRICS Network of Centres of Excellence on Mental Health, with the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) serving as the coordinating Centre of Excellence. The network is intended to facilitate collaborative research, policy dialogue, exchange of best practices and the development of evidence-based mental-health strategies.
A Wider Push for Health Cooperation
The New Delhi Declaration also addresses several other areas of public health, including tuberculosis, pandemic preparedness, digital healthcare, medical-product regulation, traditional medicine and health workforce development.
BRICS leaders recognised tuberculosis as a critical global public health challenge and called for coordinated action, sustained research investment and greater collaboration among member countries. They also backed stronger surveillance and early-warning mechanisms to improve preparedness for infectious disease outbreaks and other public-health emergencies.
The health agenda builds on the work of the 16th BRICS Health Ministers’ Meeting, held in Chandigarh earlier this year, where member countries had already identified rising NCDs, mental health and healthy lifestyles among key areas for deeper cooperation.
With obesity and NCDs now explicitly identified as major global health challenges in the New Delhi Declaration, BRICS has placed prevention, healthier lifestyles and cross-border cooperation more firmly on its public-health agenda.
Quick Answers
Ask News18The BRICS Roadmap for the Joint Initiative on Healthy Lifestyle Promotion (2026–2029) is a joint initiative endorsed by BRICS leaders at the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi. It was launched alongside the BRICS Mission for Healthy Lifestyle to address obesity and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) through stronger preventive and promotive healthcare measures.
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Swati Chaturvedi is a seasoned media professional with over 13 years of experience in journalism, digital content strategy, and editorial leadership across top national media houses. An alumna of Lady…Read More
September 13, 2026, 07:30 IST
