U.S. President Barack Obama says improvements in the American health care system are inevitable.
Mr. Obama made his comments in the White House Rose Garden Monday as he nominated an African-American woman, Regina Benjamin, to become the U.S. Surgeon General.
The president said "naysayers and cynics" should not bet against the passage of health insurance legislation. He also said inaction on the issue is not an option. Mr. Obama has vowed to sign a health care bill into law this year.
Democrats in the House of Representatives say they are nearly ready to unveil their health care reform plan.
Controversy over extending health coverage to uninsured Americans centers on how to pay for it. It is expected to cost $1 trillion over 10 years.
Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.
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