Brics nations pledge to fight diseases together

Members of the BRICS bloc have resolved to cooperate in the fight against various diseases and to promote access to cost-effective treatment, Press Trust of India (PTI) reported. BRICS members consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa adopted the Delhi Communique which stressed on fighting communicable, non-communicable diseases and mental disorders together at the end of a two-day meeting here. "They resolved to cooperate in promoting access to comprehensive and cost-effective prevention, treatment and care for the integrated management of non-communicable diseases including access to medicines and diagnostic technologies," the communique read. Health Ministers from the five countries will share experiences and strategies to prevent the spread of HIV and to scale up the level of affordable treatment. Describing multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (TB) as a major public health concern, the group had also pledged to collaborate in clinical trials of new drugs. The third Health Ministers forum will be held in South Africa in January next year.