US President Barack Obama still hopes to pass his embattled health care overhaul in 2009 in the face of growing public doubts about his approach, the White House said Friday.

Obama met with former Senate Democratic majority leader Tom Daschle, once his choice to head the US Department of Health and Human Services and the reform effort, to discuss the way forward on the plan.

"The two agreed that substantive reform that lowers costs, reforms the insurance industry, and expands coverage is too important to wait another year or another administration," spokesman Robert Gibbs said in a statement.

"They agreed to stay in touch over the coming weeks and months as this critical effort moves forward," said Gibbs.

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