Healthcare cure vital to economy warns Obama

Barack Obama today warned that America's ailing healthcare system posed a threat to the "foundation of the economy".

The president told medical professionals health reform was one of his domestic priorities. "We cannot delay this discussion any longer," he said.

"If we want to create jobs, rebuild our economy and get our federal budget under control, then we must address the crushing cost of health care."

Mr Obama spoke as he hosted a meeting of more than 150 medical experts, from administrators to surgeons, to seek their opinions on how to address what threatens to become a crippling problem.