Title: International Health Development Assistance of BRICS Countries
Abstract: With the rapid growth of economy and social development among BRICS countries, the role of international health development assistance in state capacity building is becoming more and more significant. This paper described the management system, scale, recipient countries, mechanisms and characteristics of international health assistance among BRICS countries. Aims: Learn about health development assistance of BRICS countries by analyzing its amount, distribution, main characteristics and management system in order to improve the international health development assistance related to BRICS countries. Methods: Data analysis of health development assistance of BRICS countries by using data from 2005 to 2010 of AidData and literature review were the main methods used in this paper. Results: a) from the total amount of international health assistance from 2005 to 2010, China’s total amount of international health assistance ranked first among BRICS countries (excluding 2008), and peaked in 2010, while India and South Africa was slightly higher than the amount of international health assistance in Brazil; b) China's international health development assistance was mainly distributed in 9 countries in Africa; India's was mainly distributed in 16 countries of South Asia and Africa; Brazil’s in around 45 countries depending on language and cultural factors; almost all South Africa’s aid flowed to African countries; c) Brazil’s international health development assistance mainly through technical assistance and its own experience; Russia prefer multilateral financial assistance and cooperation; India conducted technology-based health development assistance to neighboring African countries; China developed a variety of forms of international health assistance; South Africa's international health assistance was mainly carried out through tripartite partnerships; d) the BRICS countries trends to establish unified management agency. Conclusions: a) it is necessary to set up a unified international assistance management agency; b) each BRICS country should use its own comparative advantages and development experience to carry out international health assistance; c) international health assistance data should be more transparent and open.