Mexico's proposed member for the World Health Organization, Hugo López-Gatell, faces rejection
In a move deemed unprecedented and nonexistent within Mexico's formal diplomatic framework, President Claudia Sheinbaum appointed Hugo López-Gatell as Mexico's representative to the World Health Organization (WHO). However, this appointment has been met with rejection by an Independent Commission of Inquiry into the COVID-19 Pandemic in Mexico.
The commission, established to investigate the country's response to the pandemic, characterised the decision as outside the norms of Mexico's diplomatic representation. This rejection was based on López-Gatell's controversial pandemic management record, which has been criticised for serious omissions and decisions that contributed to Mexico's high excess mortality rates. According to World Health Organization data, Mexico registered the fourth highest level of excess mortality globally during López-Gatell's leadership.
Despite the rejection, it is important to note that López-Gatell's role is not his official representative role to the WHO. Instead, he will hold a technical position with the rank of minister, subordinate in hierarchy to the official Permanent Representative, Francisca Méndez. Méndez, the ambassador of the Mexican Mission to International Organizations in Geneva, including the public health agency, will continue to represent Mexico at the WHO in Geneva.
Fernando Espinosa serves as the Alternate Permanent Representative to the WHO. Meanwhile, Hugo López-Gatell's role will place him hierarchically below both Méndez and Espinosa, who holds the rank of minister and represents Mexico before all international organizations in Switzerland.
The rejection of López-Gatell's appointment by the Independent Commission of Inquiry into the COVID-19 Pandemic in Mexico was announced on July 2, 2025. The commission's investigation into the COVID-19 Pandemic in Mexico uncovered serious omissions and decisions that contributed to the high level of excess mortality in the country.
This appointment has raised concerns about the suitability of a figure associated with a criticised pandemic response serving in such an international public health role. The text does not provide information on who or what organisation López-Gatell might represent in Geneva if not the official representative to the WHO.
This article was originally published in The Mexico City Post and has also been shared on Latinus. The appointment of Hugo López-Gatell as representative to the WHO was rejected due to its unprecedented and nonexistent nature within Mexico's formal diplomatic representation.
The rejection of López-Gatell's appointment as Mexico's representative to the World Health Organization (WHO) by the Independent Commission of Inquiry into the COVID-19 Pandemic in Mexico stems from concerns about his controversial pandemic management record and the norms of Mexico's diplomatic representation. The commission's investigation into the COVID-19 Pandemic in Mexico revealed serious omissions and decisions that contributed to Mexico's high excess mortality rates.
Despite the controversy surrounding his appointment, it remains unclear what role López-Gatell might take on in Geneva if not the official representative to the WHO, as the text does not provide this information.
