National priorities for strengthening health systems in the BRICS countries: the cases of Brazil, China and Russia

Abstract

The objective of this article is to present selected examples of priority policies recently implemented in the health systems of Brazil, China, and Russia. In Brazil, two major initiatives are mentioned: the Family Health Strategy, which reorganizes Primary Health Care through territorially defined multidisciplinary teams responsible for delivering comprehensive, community-based services; and the Popular Pharmacy Program of Brazil, which expands access to essential medicines, thereby strengthening financial protection and promoting equity within the Unified Health System. In China, reforms are guided by the Healthy China 2030 strategy, a comprehensive national agenda aimed at improving the general health of the population, reinforcing preventive approaches, modernizing service delivery, and advancing digital health innovation. Emphasis is placed on tuberculosis control policies that integrate patient-centred care with coordinated public health actions, enhancing continuity of care and treatment outcomes. In Russia, priority initiatives include policies designed to support ageing populations, strengthen primary care and preventive services. In doing this, they aim to maximize patient satisfaction as a system-level performance indicator within the framework of Mandatory Health Insurance. The dissemination of these priority policies within the BRICS framework may facilitate the exchange of policy experiences, technical expertise, and institutional innovations, thereby contributing to South—South cooperation in health. The BRICS Network of Research in Public Health and Health Systems represents a promising platform for advancing collaborative research and promoting such benchmarking initiatives.