Health Ministers from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa met here on Tuesday, to prepare for the BRICS Health Ministerial Meeting which is to be held in Beijing on July 11, 2011.
The preparatory discussion was convened on the sidelines of the 64th World Health Assembly, which have gathered health authorities from 193 member states of the World Health Organization (WHO).
In a press communique following the discussions, the Health Ministers of the BRICS said that the theme of the Beijing meeting would include, promoting innovation and access to affordable medical products, vaccines and other health technologies, in support of reaching the Millennium Development Goals and addressing other public health challenges.
Additional agreement decided that the World Conference on Social Determinants of Health will be held in the Brazilian Capital, Rio de Janeiro, next October, as an important opportunity to discuss the inter-linkages between public health and development, as well as exchange experiences in reducing health inequities within and amongst countries.