Biden taps Indian-American Vivek Murthy as Surgeon General

December 04, 2020 12:17

US President-elect Joe Biden has tapped his key COVID-19 advisor Dr Vivek Murthy as the next Surgeon General, a role for which he was appointed during the Obama administration and had to leave abruptly during the current Trump administration, according to a media report.

The 43-year-old Indian-American doctor is one of the three co-chairs of the Biden's COVID-19 Advisory Board. Vivek H Murthy, a former US surgeon general, has been asked to reprise the role in an expanded version in the new administration, The Washington Post reported on Thursday, quoting an individual familiar with the decision. A formal announcement in this matter is expected soon.

The surgeon general serves a four-year term and is the top government official on public health issues. Jerome Adams is the incumbent Surgeon General. Murthy is expected to be part of a team of health-care officials charged with tackling the issue Biden has said would be his top priority upon taking office, according to people with knowledge of the matter, the report said.

He was appointed as the Surgeon General on December 15, 2014, after being approved by a 5143 Senate vote. He was relieved of his duties on April 21, 2017, by President Donald Trump. -- PTI

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