Health job for Hillary Clinton

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Bill Clinton yesterday named his wife Hillary to head a national health care task force which includes several members of his Cabinet. The team would work to solve one of America's most pressing domestic problems. The job gives Mrs Clinton a more direct role in presidential policy-making than any recent First Lady. The President has said health care would be one of his priorities.

Members of the task force will include Donna Shalala, the Health and Human Services Secretary, and the secretaries of the Treasury, Commerce, Defense and Veterans Affairs. The President said it would deal with the rising cost of health care and insurance, veterans' health problems, the Aids crisis and other unmet needs of the health system.