China, other BRICS nations to establish early warning system for diseases

Members of BRICS agreed to initiate the establishment of an early warning mechanism for major infectious diseases to help strengthen global health security during a meeting involving their health ministers on Tuesday evening.

BRICS comprises the five major developing economies of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

The agreement was reached as the COVID-19 pandemic that first emerged in late 2019 has prompted the global community to enhance coordination to address the spread of novel contagious diseases.

During the 12th BRICS Health Ministers Meeting that was held virtually, Ma Xiaowei, minister of China's National Health Commission, said the nation has implemented scientific and targeted disease control measures to contain the disease and has striven to coordinate its virus containment measures with economic development.

China has made contributions to the global fight against the virus by providing antivirus materials and vaccines to other countries. In fact, according to Ma, it has supplied more than 2.2 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines to more than 120 countries and international organizations.

Furthermore, it has dispatched medical aid teams overseas to offer assistance.

He called on BRICS countries to strengthen cooperation to fight against COVID-19 and promote universal health coverage.

The formulation of an early warning system against major infectious diseases was first raised during the BRICS meeting chaired by Russia in 2020 and was further discussed during the meeting chaired by India last year.

China is the chair of BRICS this year.