Our News Bureau – Mumbai
Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa are injecting new resources, momentum and innovation into efforts to improve health in the world’s poorest countries, according to a report released on the eve of the 2012 BRICS Summit. Coming as many traditional donors reduce or slow their spending, the report by Global Health Strategies Initiatives (GHSi), recently released in New Delhi, explores the expanding influence of the BRICS on global health and development.
“The BRICS champion models of cooperation anchored in their own domestic experiences, uniquely positioning them to provide health interventions and technologies tailored to resource-poor settings,” said Sachin Pilot, Minister of State of Communication and Information Technology
“As the BRICS continue to innovate in R&D and delivery models, they will play an increasingly important role in improving health outcomes in some of the world’s poorest countries,” said Anjali Nayyar, co-Executive Director, GHSi.
The GHSi report finds that in health and other areas, the BRICS emphasise South-South cooperation and technical support that aim to build capacity and self-sufficiency. The report also describes important contributions by the BRICS to multilateral health initiatives including Brazil’s role in founding UNITAID. Beyond providing assistance, the report also documents how public and private sector innovators in the BRICS countries are producing high-quality, low-costs health technologies that have revolutionised health access among poor populations. Indian manufacturers, for example, have played a critical role in driving down prices for vaccines and HIV/AIDS medications.