US health care reform team emerges after Daschle setback, biogenerics promised

The new federal administration of President Barack Obama is putting  together the team it hopes will deliver a major health care reform  package, following the setback of former US Senator Tom Daschle's failed  nomination as Secretary of Health and Human Services (Marketletter  February 9) over tax evasion claims. The new choice of HHS Secretary is  Governor Kathleen Sebelius (Democrat, Kansas), who was widely rumored to  be the then presidential candidate's most favored female choice for  running mate shortly before the Democratic convention last year.

The White House Office for Health Reform, in an echo to a position once  held by previous Democratic Pres Bill Clinton's wife in 1993, will be  run by Nancy-Ann De-Parle, who then assisted Hillary Clinton (the new  Secretary of State), the then architect of health care reform.

A summit at the White House to discuss the President's goals for change  is due to be held in the first week of March, gathering 120 politicians,  lobbyists and activists. During the election campaign which ended last  November, Pres Obama's agenda appeared to focus on a  government-subsidized health insurance plan that would compete against  private providers in a government-controlled market place. Critics claim  that such a scheme will fail to offer Americans any choice, because  private operators will be "crowded out."