New York: An eminent Indian-American physician has been appointed by New York Mayor Bill de Blasio as the head of the city's health network, the country's largest public hospital system.

Madras-native Ramanathan Raju will be New York City's Commissioner of Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC), a network which has a dozen hospitals, a health plan and more than USD 7.3 billion in revenue.

Currently CEO of the Chicago's Cook County Health and Hospital System, Raju is a respected physician who has led some of the nation's largest and most complex healthcare systems.

In his new role, Raju will work to raise standards of care at HHC hospitals, deepen the agency’s approach to providing primary and preventative care at the neighbourhood level and implement progressive, community-based reforms.

Raju's appointment must be ratified by the HHC board.

"We sought out progressive, proven leaders who are committed to serving diverse communities across this city. And in Raju, we found them," de Blasio said in a statement.

Raju's new role brings him back to an organisation where he had previously served as Chief Medical Officer, Corporate COO and Executive Vice President.

"I am excited to return to the Health and Hospitals Corporation. Under my leadership, the HHC will continue its mission of ensuring New Yorkers have access to quality health care options—from major hospitals to neighbourhood clinics—no matter where they live," Raju, who has more than 30 years of experience in public and not-for-profit hospital systems, said.
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