WHO Chief praises India’s healthcare gains and BRICS health commitments

World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has commended India’s healthcare advancements and the BRICS bloc’s commitment to global health cooperation following the 2026 BRICS Summit in New Delhi.

During the summit, the New Delhi Declaration was adopted, emphasizing universal health coverage, resilient health systems, and the integration of traditional medicine. The declaration also highlights the necessity of multilateral cooperation and the coordinating role of the WHO. Key priorities include the successful conclusion of negotiations on the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing Annex to the Pandemic Agreement and coordinated efforts to end tuberculosis (TB).

In separate discussions with Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda, Dr. Tedros praised India’s progress in maternal and child health, noting that institutional deliveries have risen from 78% to 93%. He specifically highlighted the impact of approximately 160,000 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs in providing community-level screening for hypertension, diabetes, and common cancers, as well as the vital role of ASHA workers in delivering healthcare services to local populations.