BRICS and global health

The influence of the BRICS countries -Brazil the Russian Federation India China and South Africa -in the inter¬national arena has risen enormously in recent decades. These five countries represent around 25% of the world’s gross national income more than 40% of the world’s population and about 40% of the global burden of disease.12 Although great attention has been paid to their economic performance less widely noted is the fact that they are also well positioned to exert a significant influence on global health. This theme issue on BRICS and global health looks at the main factors shaping how the five countries are al¬ready influencing global health as well as some of their major domestic achieve¬ments and challenges. Each country has unique characteristics in terms of health performance and global health diplomacy. (Excerpt)