Dr. Vivek Hallegere Murthy has been approved by the US Senate as President Barack Obama’s choice for surgeon general. Murthy is the youngest person and the first Indian-American to have been ever named for the prestigious post.
Dr Murthy, 37, is an instructor and a physician at Harvard Medical School and Boston hospital respectively.
The young doctor won 43 out of 51 votes to become the 19th US Surgeon General. With this development,
In a statement, Obama has said that Dr Murthy’s confirmation “makes us better positioned to save lives around the world and protect the American people here at home”.
With this victory, Dr Murthy has made a history not only for being the youngest to achieve the position but also as the first Indian to receive the honor.
In March, Senate Republicans and the National Rifle Association turned up to raise their opposition against Murthy over his support for Obama’s Affordable Care Act (ACA) and his assertions about gun violence constituting a health problem.
Meanwhile, the political analysts said that if the Senate would not have voted in support of Murthy on Monday, then his nomination would have likely died next year when Republicans take over the chamber.
Murthy will take over Regina Benjamin as the new surgeon general of the United States. Since the departure of Benjamin in July last year, Boris D. Lushniak was acting surgeon general.
The post of surgeon general is held by a medical expert that advocates for people’s health.
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