Bridging the Gap on Sustainable Health: The 13th BRICS Health Ministers Meeting

South Africa is gearing up to host the 13th BRICS Health Ministers meeting from August 1st to 4th, 2023, in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. The meeting is significant as it brings together the health ministers from Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa to discuss critical issues regarding health system strengthening and achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030.

The Goal of Bridging the Gap on Sustainable Health

The primary aim of the meeting is to bridge the gap on sustainable health on the road to UHC 2023. The BRICS member states, which consist of the world’s leading emerging market economies, will engage in discussions to advance peace, security, development, and cooperation among nations. The meeting will focus on collaboration among member states to fortify primary health care and financial risk protection to achieve UHC.

Participants of the Meeting

The participants of the meeting will include not only the BRICS health ministers but also ambassadors and embassy representatives of the member states in South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal’s MEC for Health, senior health officials, and the World Health Organization’s country office. The event is expected to be insightful and enlightening, with sessions held at the Durban International Convention Centre (ICC) and site visits to the Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital.

Discussing Pressing Health Matters

The four-day event will commence on August 1st, with senior health officials from the BRICS countries gathering at the Durban ICC to discuss pressing health matters. The discussions will continue on August 2nd, delving deeper into the challenges faced by the healthcare systems of each nation and exploring potential solutions.

Site Visits and Collaborative Efforts

On August 3rd, the BRICS senior health officials will visit the Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital, an institution known for its state-of-the-art facilities and commitment to advancing healthcare in the region. This excursion will provide the officials with a firsthand experience of the hospital’s operations and an opportunity to exchange knowledge and best practices among the BRICS countries.

The final day of the event, August 4th, will see the BRICS health ministers convene at the Durban ICC for their crucial meeting. Following the discussions, the ministers will also visit the Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital to gain insights into the hospital’s functioning and assess the benefits of collaborative efforts among BRICS nations.

Toward Sustainable Health for All

The 13th BRICS Health Ministers meeting is an essential platform for fostering an environment conducive to achieving equitable access to affordable and quality healthcare for all citizens, irrespective of their socio-economic background. The theme “Bridging the Gap on Sustainable Health” is a clarion call for the BRICS member states to come together and intensify their efforts in realizing this goal. Through open dialogue, shared learning, and collaborative initiatives, the BRICS countries can make strides in achieving universal health coverage and bridging the gap between their citizens’ health and well-being.