Alex Azar: Trump makes ex-Pharmamanager the health minister

Alex Azar, a former top manager of the pharmaceutical industry, is to take over the US Department of Health. The president called Azar on Twitter a star.

Alex Azar: Trump makes ex-Pharmamanager the health minister

US President Donald Trump announced that he nominated Alex Azar for post of Health minister. Azar will be "a Star for better health care and lower cost of medication", he tweeted. The Senate has yet to confirm Azars nomination.

Happy to announce, I am nominating Alex Azar to be next HHS secretary. He will be a star for better healthcare and lower drug prices!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 13, 2017

Azar follows Republican Tom Price, who had resigned from his office in September. Price had been accused of having used government costs for hundreds of thousands of dollars in private jets.

In past, 50-year-old Azar led US business of pharmaceutical Eli Lilly, specializing in diabetes medications and psychotropic drugs. Under former President George W. Bush, Azar had already worked as head of Department of Health and later as deputy Minister of Health.

Alex Azar is considered a staunch opponent of Obamacare, health care system that Trump's predecessor Barack Obama had launched. Until now, Trump government's attempts at reform had failed. Azar is believed to be able to change health system even without participation of Congress. The last draft bill to abolish Obamacare had been rejected in Senate.

Date Of Update: 14 November 2017, 12:02
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