US President Donald Trump says Obamacare is 'essentially dead' after the House of Representatives passes a Republican healthcare bill.

US President Donald Trump says Australia has a better health care system than the US, a comment that's attracting attention because Australia offers universal health care, which Republicans oppose.

In his meeting on Thursday with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Trump said the existing US system was failing: "I shouldn't say this to a great gentleman and my friend from Australia because you have better healthcare than we do."

He added that Americans will have a "great'"system soon, referring to the just-passed House GOP healthcare bill.

REUTERS "We get along great," says Donald Trump of his relationship with Malcolm Turnbull.

Senator Bernie Sanders quickly pointed out that Australia provided free or subsidised healthcare.

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CARLOS BARRIA/REUTERS US President Donald Trump celebrates with Congressional Republicans in the Rose Garden of the White House after his healthcare bill was approved by the House of Representatives.

"Thank you Mr Trump for admitting that universal health care is the better way to go. I'll be sure to quote you on the floor of the Senate," Sanders tweeted.

Trump says Australia's (single payer) health care system is better. @BernieSanders: "Thank you Mr. President" https://t.co/wuQHu8ilkW — All In w/Chris Hayes (@allinwithchris) May 5, 2017

After the meeting, Turnbull described his relationship with Trump as "more family than formal".

The leaders and their wives, Lucy and Melania, spent three hours together in New York on Thursday at an event to honour the 75th anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea.

Turnbull said Trump was different to former US President Barack Obama.

"The two presidents are obviously very different men," Turnbull told reporters on Friday just before flying back to Australia.

"I have been delighted and honoured to meet each of them."

- AP, AAP