BRICS countries pledge to lower medicine costs

The top five emerging countries in the world have joined together this week to fight diseases across the globe.

Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, which together form the BRICS group of emerging countries, have vowed to make HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis medicines more affordable.

The BRICS group have this week promised to increase accessibility to high quality medications and have urged the richer, more developed nations to join them in the responsibility.

READ MORE FROM THE WDM CONTENT NETWORK:

To read the latest edition of Healthcare Global, click here

• Antiobiotic resistant strain of gonorrhea is discovered
• Peanut protein drops could cure nut allergies
• Romance novels may have negative effects on health

In a groundbreaking event, health ministers from the BRICS countries met in Beijing along with officials from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNAIDS.

Together the groups have pledged to work to provide “affordable, safe and effective technologies.”

In a statement, the BRICS group added: “We are committed to continue to collaborate in order to advance access to public health services and... support other countries in their efforts to promote health for all.”

Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi, the South African health minister said in the meeting: “For my country it is absolutely essential, as we know most of the developing world is in sub-Saharan Africa, which is unfortunately the theatre of the battle against communicable diseases like HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria.”