Barack Obama speaks out against Republican healthcare plan

Pic Courtesy: PTI

New York: Former US President Barack Obama used a rare public appearance on Wednesday to speak out against the latest Republican efforts to upend his signature healthcare reforms.

Obama — appearing at an event with Bill and Melinda Gates in New York — said it was "aggravating" to see Republicans move forward with a plan that he said would make Americans worse off.

Defending his health care reforms ahead of another repeal vote in the Republican-controlled Congress that could take place as soon as next week, Obama said his healthcare legislation is not perfect but that "people are alive today because of it."

"When I see people trying to undo that hard-won progress for the 50th or 60th time with bills that would raise costs or reduce coverage, or roll back protections for older Americans or people with pre-existing conditions, the cancer survivor, the expecting mom or the child with autism, or asthma, for whom coverage once again would be almost unattainable, it is aggravating."

"And all of this being done without any demonstrable economic or actuary or plain common sense rationale, it frustrates," Obama said.

"And it is certainly frustrating to have to mobilize every couple of months to keep our leaders from inflicting real human suffering on our constituents."