Obama's healthcare bill passes US Senate vote

Washington, Dec 21: President Barack Obama's healthcare reform, has cleared a key hurdle in the US Senate.

All 58 Democrats and two independents voted for the bill, while all the 40 Republicans voted against it. The House of Representatives has already passed the bill.

Democratic Senator Tom Harkin said, "We'll get this passed before Christmas and it will be one of the best Christmas presents this Congress has ever given the American people."

The reform measure aims to extend health coverage to more than 30 million people who currently lack health insurance.

The United States is the world's richest nation but the only industrialized democracy that does not provide health care coverage to all of its citizens.

According to Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Washington spends more than double what Britain, France and Germany do per person on health care.

OneIndia News