Obama says health vote historic

He said he was absolutely confident the Senate would pass its own version and that healthcare reform would become law by the end of the year.

Passed in a narrow 220-215 vote by the House, the bill aim to extend coverage to 36 million more American and provide affordable healthcare to 96%.

Mr Obama has made healthcare reform a central plank of his domestic agenda.

Correspondent say the legislation could lead to the biggest change in American healthcare in decade.

The Senate must now consider its own bill. If it is passed then lawmaker will try to amalgamate the two before the programme can be sign into law by the president.

Abortion amendment

In Saturday vote, the bill was supported by 219 Democrat and one Republican - Joseph Cao from New Orleans. Opposed were 176 Republicans and 39 Democrats.

Mr Obama said: Tonight, in an historic vote, the House of Representative passed a bill that would finally make real the promise of quality, affordable healthcare for the American people.

The United States Senate must follow suit and pass its version of the legislation. I am absolutely confident it will, and I look forward to signing comprehensive health insurance reform into law by the end of the year.

The debate had sparked strong emotions on both sides.

Democratic Party representative John Dingell said: offer everyone, regardless of health or income, the peace of mind that comes from knowing they will have access to affordable healthcare when they need it.

Before the vote, Mr Obama had made a rare visit to Congress to try to persuade wavering members of his own Democratic Party to back the bill.

He said such opportunities came around "maybe once in a generation".

After the vote House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said: "I thank the president for his tremendous leadership, because without President Obama in the White House, this victory would not have been possible."

The bill will allow the government to sell insurance in competition with private companies and make insurers offer cover to those with pre-existing conditions.

However, the government-run healthcare programme - the so-called "public option" - was scaled back in the run-up to the vote.

One key concession to get the bill through was to anti-abortion legislators.

An amendment was passed that prohibits coverage for abortion in the government-run programme except for rape, incest or if the mother's life is threatened. Private plans can still offer the cover.

Democrat Bart Stupak, who sponsored the amendment, said: "Let us stand together on principle - no public funding for abortions."

Abortion rights supporters said the amendment was the biggest setback to their cause in decades.

The Senate debate on healthcare reform is expected in the coming days.

Senate majority leader Harry Reid said after the House vote: "We realise the strong will for reform that exists, and we are energised that we stand closer than ever to reforming our broken health insurance system.