Yoga touted as a weapon against non‑communicable diseases at BRICS health meet

Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava sparked a quiet buzz on Wednesday when she led a yoga session for delegates from 21 countries on the sidelines of the 16th BRICS Health Ministers’ Meeting in Chandigarh.

Speaking to reporters afterwards, she stressed that yoga isn’t just a stretch‑and‑relax routine; it can actually help curb the rise of non‑communicable and lifestyle‑related diseases that are sweeping many nations.

The session, she explained, was deliberately slotted into the BRICS health agenda, which carries two parallel tracks – one promoting healthy lifestyles and the other championing traditional, complementary and integrative medicine. “When we talk about healthy living, yoga naturally finds its place,” Srivastava said, adding that the global enthusiasm for the practice was evident from the diverse attendance.

She also reminded everyone that India’s long‑standing push led to the United Nations proclaiming 21 June as International Yoga Day, a move that has given yoga a truly worldwide badge of recognition. “That global nod, coupled with today’s participation, tells us we have a real chance to stem the tide of emerging chronic illnesses,” she noted.

The broader BRICS gathering, held under India’s 2026 chairmanship, aims to cement cooperation on a host of health priorities – from pandemic preparedness and digital health to affordable medicines and mental‑well‑being. Srivastava highlighted that tackling non‑communicable diseases fits neatly into the overarching goal of universal health coverage across the bloc.

India, now in its fourth stint as BRICS chair, has placed health cooperation front and centre of its theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.” With Brazil, Russia, China, South Africa and several other partners representing almost half the world’s population, the discussions carry a weight that could ripple far beyond the conference rooms.

Whether it’s a quiet stretch in a conference hall or a policy commitment on a global stage, Srivastava’s message was clear: yoga, backed by science and tradition, could become a low‑cost, widely accessible tool in the fight against heart disease, diabetes, hypertension and other chronic ailments.