Mehmet Oz, a former TV host and celebrity doctor, has been appointed by the US Senate to oversee the healthcare of millions of Americans through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Despite lacking experience in public office, Oz was selected by President Donald Trump to lead CMS. The Republican-controlled Senate confirmed his appointment with a 53-45 vote along party lines.

The 64-year-old Oz, who trained as a surgeon and gained fame on The Oprah Winfrey Show, has faced criticism from health experts for promoting weight-loss drugs and questionable health advice. Oz also faced scrutiny for suggesting malaria drugs as a potential Covid-19 cure at the start of the pandemic. In response to Oz’s appointment, Trump praised him as potentially the most qualified physician to improve America’s health.

In his new role, Oz plans to collaborate with US Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr to address the “illness industrial complex.” The CMS oversees Medicare and Medicaid programs, providing coverage to approximately half of Americans and regulating medical services prices. In 2023, the US government allocated over $1.4tn in Medicaid and Medicare funds. Oz, who hosted The Dr Oz Show from 2009 to 2022, has been criticized for promoting alternative medicine and pseudoscience. Furthermore, there have been allegations that he failed to pay $403,739 in Medicare taxes from his media company’s income between 2021 and 2023. However, Oz’s spokesperson claims that he complied with the law, as determined by the Office of Government Ethics.

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1k4em2yz9eo