The vote fulfils a top promise made to Republican voters in the November's mid-term elections.

Senate Democrats, who hold the majority in that chamber, have signaled they won't allow a vote on the repeal bill.

Republicans have also vowed to deny Mr Obama the funds to implement the law.

Republicans won sweeping gains in November's mid-term congressional elections in part by attacking what they portrayed as a costly and job-killing healthcare law.

The bill passed the House in a 245-189 vote, with three Democrats joining the majority Republicans.

"Our vote to repeal is not merely symbolic," Republican Representative Nan Hayworth said.

"It respects the will of the American people, and it paves the way to reform our healthcare," he added.

Mr Obama, who signed the healthcare change into law in 2010, has said he will veto the bill to overturn the law if it passes in both the House and Senate.

Meanwhile, the renewed debate has given congressional Democrats an opportunity vigorously to defend the law's more popular provisions.

The president's landmark achievement would provide coverage to more than 30 million uninsured people.

The law would also expand a Medicaid programme for the poor and provide tax credits to make premiums more affordable for the middle class.