Delhi Communique issued at 6th BRICS Health Ministers meet
Q. Delhi Communique was issued at the close of which meet?- Published on 19 Dec 16a. 6th BRICS Health Ministers’ Meet
b. 6th BRICS Environment Ministers’ Meet
c. 6th BRICS Finance Ministers’ Meet
d. None of the above
ANSWER: 6th BRICS Health Ministers’ Meet
Delhi Communique has been issued at the 6th BRICS Health Ministers Meet.
It has the following provisions:- Agreed to constitute a working group, to work on strengthening regulatory systems, sharing of information, appropriate regulatory approaches in case of international and national health emergencies and provide recommendations for the promotion of research and development of innovative medical products (drugs, vaccines and medical technologies).
- Supported promoting existing IT platform and regulatory capacity building through an institutional development plan for BRICS countries.
- Agreed to make efforts to enhance access to HIV diagnostics and treatment especially to key populations with increased risk of acquiring HIV and exchange experiences of community-based actions to fight HIV/AIDS.
- Underlined the imperative to advance cooperation and action on research on HIV, TB and Malaria in the BRICS countries, including in the development and production of quality-assured drugs, diagnostics and vaccines.
- Agreed to the setting up of a BRICS network on TB Research and creation of a research and development consortium on TB, HIV and Malaria including the possibility of international fund raising.
- Also agreed to support the Global Ministerial Conference on the fight against TB to be held in Moscow in 2017 and the UN High-Level Meeting on TB at United Nations Headquarters in 2018.
- Emphasised the importance of continued cooperation among BRICS countries in promoting research and development of medicines and diagnostic tools to end epidemics including through promoting innovative and sustainable models for health R&D financing and coordination and to facilitate access to safe, effective, quality and affordable medicines, including generic medicines, biological products, and diagnostics.
- Agreed to cooperate through the AMR focal points, regulatory authorities and relevant cross sectors, with a view to share best practices and discuss challenges, as well as identifying potential areas for convergence, such as surveillance, strategies for: rational use of antibiotics, strategies to address shortages of first line antibiotics and vaccines, infection prevention and control, strategies for preventing inappropriate use of antibiotics in agricultural sector based on scientific evidence, strengthening research collaboration across sectors and disciplines in the field of AMR as well as enhancing lab activities for quick testing of drug resistance for different pathogens.
- Agreed to work cooperatively in international fora to protect their policy space against TRIPS plus provisions and other measures that impede access to medicines and share these experiences with other developing countries.
- Agreed to cooperate for combating mental disorders, including autism and neuro-development disorders, through a multi-pronged approach encompassing a mental health policy, a life cycle approach to address the needs of such individuals throughout life, sharing of innovations in the field of mental health promotion, diagnosis and management and exchange of best practices and experiences.
- Agreed to enhance cooperation amongst the BRICS countries for capacity development of human resources in public health and clinical medicine.
- Agreed to establish platforms for collaboration within BRICS framework and with other countries and international partners with a view to realising the goals and objectives outlined in this as well as in the past Declarations and Joint Communiques.
Health Care in IndiaIndia’s life expectancy at birth has nearly doubled since independence.
- Under-five mortality rate and maternal mortality ratio have declined by over 60% since 1990.
- New HIV infection among adult population has declined by 57%.
- Substantial reductions have been achieved in the incidence of and mortality from major infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis, malaria, pneumonia and diarrhoeal diseases.
- In 2016 India celebrated five years since the last case of wild polio was reported.
- WHO headquarters confirmed India’s claim of yaws free status in 2016.
- WHO has validated the elimination of maternal and neonatal tetanus in 2015 from India.
- Cases of kala-azar declined by 11% in 2015 from 2014, and 78% since 2006.
- Leprosy has been eliminated in 84% of all districts.
