According to the report of Times of India, the Trump government, surrounded by the tariff dispute, now seems to be changing its policy focus. After the judicial setback on economic decisions, Trump has made a major reshuffle in the health system and has given such responsibility to Indian-origin Dr. Jai Bhattacharya, which for the first time in American history has been given to a single person. This appointment has taken place at a time when there is a heated debate in America regarding scientific institutions, vaccine policy and public health model. The Trump administration is calling it a step towards system reform, while critics are linking it to a political agenda.

For the first time, command of the two largest health agencies is in the hands of one person.

Trump has appointed Indian-American physician and economist Dr. Jai Bhattacharya to head the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This is the first time in American history that a single person has been given the responsibility of both the country’s major medical research agency and public health agency. The White House says that this will improve coordination between research and public health policy.

Dr Jai Bhattacharya

Who is Dr. Jai Bhattacharya?

• Dr. Jai Bhattacharya is a 57 year old doctor and health economist. His long academic career has been associated with Stanford University. Born in Kolkata, Bhattacharya went to America in his childhood and from there he obtained higher education in medicine and economy. His research has mainly focused on the aging population, chronic diseases and the impact of government health schemes.
• As a co-author of the ‘Great Barrington Declaration’, he opposed the lockdown and supported the policy of ‘focused protection’ during the Covid-19 pandemic. This stance brought him to the center of American political debate and later came to be considered close to the pro-Trump faction.

Why is the appointment of Dr. Jai Bhattacharya being considered so important?

This appointment is historic because for the first time two powerful institutions like NIH and CDC will be headed by the same person. NIH is a center for medical research while CDC implements public health policies. Through the joint command of both the institutions, efforts are being made to bring speed and uniformity in health policy.

Why did Trump take this decision after the tariff shock?

After the economic agenda was weakened by the Supreme Court decision, the Trump administration has adopted the strategy of making health policy a new political narrative. This step is being seen as strengthening administrative control and sending a message of institutional reform.

Is there any controversy regarding this appointment?

Yes, critics say that Bhattacharya’s old views on Covid policies and opinions related to the vaccine debate could affect the public health system. Supporters claim that this is a big step towards ‘medical freedom’ and institutional transparency.

Challenges are no less

With the new responsibility, Dr. Bhattacharya will face big administrative and policy challenges. He will have to handle the responsibility of managing the NIH budget of approximately $50 billion and thousands of employees of the Atlanta-based CDC. Critics believe that this change could lead US health policy towards a more decentralized and individual choice-based model, but only time will determine its outcome.