Former President Donald Trump has announced Dr. Mehmet Oz as his pick to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), a critical agency overseeing healthcare for millions of Americans. The selection of the Turkish-American television personality and former cardiothoracic surgeon marks another unconventional choice for Trump’s proposed health team, following his earlier nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Who is Doctor Oz?
Oz, who gained national prominence through appearances on The Oprah Winfrey Show before hosting his own Emmy-winning program for 13 seasons, has expressed support for universal healthcare coverage.
“It should be mandatory that everybody in America have health care coverage. If you can’t afford it, we have to give it to you,” he previously told The Seattle Times.
Here’s what Donald Trump said on Oz’s appointment:
Trump praised Oz’s qualifications in a statement: “There may be no Physician more qualified and capable than Dr. Oz to Make America Healthy Again.” The former president added, “Women, in particular, are drawn to Dr. Oz for his advice and counsel. I have seen this many times over the years. They know him, believe in him, and trust him.”
However, the nomination has drawn criticism from healthcare experts and politicians. Senator Patty Murray, a Washington Democrat and former Senate health committee leader, expressed concern: “Even putting aside the raft of alarming pseudoscience Dr. Oz has previously endorsed, it is deeply disappointing to see someone with zero qualifications being announced to head up such a critical agency.”
Lawrence Gostin, director of O’Neill Institute, voiced similar concerns on X: “Dr Oz is unfit to run CMS. He peddles conspiracy theories on vaccines & fake cures. He profits from fringe medical ideas. By nominating RFK Jr & Mehmet Oz, Trump is giving his middle finger to science. Having worked for 40 years in public health, it’s utterly disheartening.”
Oz and his medical controversy
Oz’s medical career has been marked by controversy. A 2014 British Medical Journal study found that only 46 per cent of his medical recommendations were supported by evidence. He faced criticism for promoting hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine as COVID-19 treatments during the pandemic’s early stages, despite experts finding no evidence of their effectiveness against the virus. His TV show also drew scrutiny for promoting unproven weight loss supplements and alternative medicine practices.
While Oz maintains his medical license, he hasn’t performed surgery since 2018. His most recent foray into public service ended in defeat when he lost the 2022 Pennsylvania Senate race to John Fetterman, despite Trump’s endorsement.
If confirmed, Oz would oversee an agency responsible for providing healthcare coverage to more than 130 million Americans through Medicare and Medicaid programs.
