In the United Kingdom, a chief medical officer (CMO) is the most senior government advisor on matter relating to health.
More recently, some appointees have been senior clinicians without training in public health medicine.
In the UK, the CMO is one of the chief professional officers who advise the government in their respective health and social care disciplines.
[2] The CMO has independent statutory authority, first established in the 19th century, to issue reports without requiring government approval.
[3] The historic post was created in Victorian times to help to prevent cholera and other epidemics.