Chandigarh, July 22 -- India will host the 16th BRICS health ministers' meeting in Chandigarh from July 22 to 24, with nine key areas of health in focus, including collaborative research on tuberculosis, prevention and response to mass infectious diseases, digital health, and promotion of mental well-being.

The three-day event will be attended by 11 member nations - Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Together, the 11 BRICS countries account for nearly half of the world's population and around 40% of the global GDP.

Union health secretary Punya Salila Srivastava on Tuesday said the meeting is being held to strengthen collaboration and foster strategic partn...