Washington:
Donald Trump introduced Tuesday that he was appointing Mehmet Oz, a former surgeon and TV movie star referred to as “Dr. Oz,” to steer america’ huge public medical health insurance program.
The 64-year-old coronary heart surgeon was championed on daytime tv by Oprah Winfrey earlier than he entered politics with an unsuccessful bid for a Senate seat in 2022.
Oz is the most recent of Trump’s eye-catching nominations to key positions, together with Fox Information host Pete Hegseth to be protection secretary, vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as well being secretary and billionaire Elon Musk to go a authorities cost-cutting unit.
“America is dealing with a Healthcare Disaster and there could also be no Doctor extra certified and succesful than Dr. Oz to Make America Wholesome Once more,” the president-elect posted on his Reality Social platform.
The appointment places a person whose well being suggestions — particularly on Covid and weight reduction — have typically been ridiculed by the medical group on the helm of america’ Facilities for Medicare and Medicaid Companies (CMS).
As CMS administrator, Oz will probably be accountable for a federal company that gives well being protection to greater than 160 million Individuals — virtually half the nation’s inhabitants.
It employs about 6,700 folks, had outlays of $1.48 trillion final yr and is one the most important purchasers of healthcare providers on the earth.
A son of Turkish immigrants, Oz has by no means held public workplace earlier than, however has been a steadfast ally of Trump, who backed him in his unsuccessful Senate run in Pennsylvania.
(Apart from the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is printed from a syndicated feed.)