Vivek Murthy tipped for big healthcare role in Biden admin

Biden is expected to announce his choice for Health and Human Services Secretary next week and Vivek Murthy is reportedly in the running for this position as well being a top choice for his earlier role of Surgeon General.

New York: Indian-American Vivek Murthy, the former US Surgeon General, is tipped for a big role in Joe Biden's health care team, as the President-elect readies to name consequential picks to lead the next administration's response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Murthy currently co-chairs the Biden-Harris Transition's Covid-19 task force.

Read:|Next for Biden: Naming a health care team as pandemic rages

Murthy served as the 19th Surgeon General of the United States, from December 15, 2014, to April 21, 2017.

Known for his soft-spoken demeanour, he is the author of NYT bestseller "Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World".

Murthy was asked to resign by President Donald Trump in 2017, although he was named to a four-year term by former President Barack Obama, starting 2014.

While serving as Surgeon General, Murthy fought the spread of Ebola and the Zika virus, among other public health challenges.

In his early years as an ER doctor, Murthy treated plenty of gunshot victims and has spoken out consistently against gun violence.

Egged on by an angry gun-rights lobby, Senate Republicans ganged up and put Murthy's nomination for Surgeon General in limbo for many months.

Read:|Biden names Brian Deese as Director of National Economic Council

On Thursday, Biden also spoke with Anthony Fauci who leads the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

Biden told CNN he's making Fauci a chief medical adviser and a member of his Covid-19 advisory team.

IANS