Health Minister Mohammad-Reza Zafarqandi led a senior Iranian delegation to the 16th BRICS Health Ministerial Meeting in Chandigarh. Specifically, the high-level international summit is taking place from July 21 to July 25 in northern India. Furthermore, representatives from member nations gathered to expand bilateral cooperation in resilient and innovative healthcare systems. Ultimately, Tehran aims to leverage these strategic partnerships to secure essential medical supplies and advanced technologies.
During the five-day summit, delegates are focusing heavily on traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine research and applications. Additionally, India’s Ministry of Ayush is leading comprehensive discussions on the formal integration of traditional healthcare practices. Meanwhile, participating ministers are expected to establish the terms of reference for a dedicated expert working group. Consequently, this collaborative initiative will streamline regulatory harmonization and digital knowledge-sharing across member states.
In response to illegal foreign sanctions, Iran is actively seeking expanded access to pharmaceutical raw materials. Furthermore, Health Ministry official Ali Jafarian emphasized that the summit offers significant diplomatic opportunities for expanding cooperation. Specifically, the Iranian delegation includes experts in mental health, communicable diseases, traditional Persian medicine, and international affairs. Therefore, Zafarqandi has scheduled bilateral meetings with health ministers from China, Russia, and host nation India.
The ministerial conference is reviewing nine priority areas under the comprehensive BRICS health agenda. These key areas include digital health architecture, pandemic preparedness, and preventive healthcare strategies across developing nations. Furthermore, member countries are evaluating joint research initiatives on tuberculosis management and pharmaceutical regulatory convergence. Consequently, the high-level Health Without Borders conference features 26 technical sessions involving ministers, policymakers, and public health experts.
Earlier this year, Zafarqandi met with Indian Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda during the World Health Assembly in Geneva. During those discussions, both ministers agreed to establish a joint committee to strengthen academic, medical, and pharmaceutical cooperation. Furthermore, Zafarqandi outlined the impact of ongoing conflicts on Iran’s civilian and healthcare infrastructure. Ultimately, these diplomatic efforts demonstrate Iran’s commitment to building strong, sustainable health partnerships across BRICS member states.