MEXICO CITY, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Health, as "a fundamental human right," should not be subject to the pursuit of profit, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said Saturday at the Group of 20 (G20) summit.
"Health is a fundamental human right that the state must guarantee, putting aside the profit motive," which has been made clear by the raging COVID-19 pandemic, said Lopez Obrador.
"Medical care, vaccines and medicines must be free and universally applicable, as established by Mexico's resolution approved at the United Nations," the president added.
In his four-minute message to the virtual summit, Lopez Obrador pointed out that another lesson learned from the pandemic is that healthy eating habits should be promoted as a way to prevent disease and that those suffering from hypertension, diabetes and obesity are most vulnerable to COVID-19.
Mexico has one of the world's worst COVID-19 outbreaks, with more than 1 million infections and over 100,000 deaths, according to local health authorities.
Hosted by Saudi Arabia, which holds the rotating presidency of the G20, the two-day summit is focused on fighting the pandemic and recovering economic growth.
Lopez Obrador attended the summit via video link from the National Palace in the capital of Mexico City, accompanied by Foreign Affairs Minister Marcelo Ebrard, and ministers of economy, health and finance. Enditem
