The Pursuit of Health Podcast

The Pursuit of Health is a weekly podcast dedicated to a thorough exploration of the American Healthcare System at a critical time in our nation’s history. The podcast’s creator and host, Dr. Eric Fethke, is a pediatric cardiologist and educator trained at Columbia University, with over 25 years of experience practicing medicine. Students, professionals, and everyday people alike are invited to learn from guest experts who are pursuing groundbreaking work to improve America's health. Join us on our journey towards a better healthcare!

All Episodes

The Pursuit of Health Podcast

Ep76: Drug Pricing, Pharmacy Access and Removing Barriers to Health w/Vinay Patel

June 04, 2025 • Dr. Eric Fethke

A conversation with Vinay Patel

There are too many barriers in the pursuit of health: financial, infrastructural, systematic… American healthcare is set up to fail the patients it needs to prioritize.

Welcome Vinay Patel, a forward thinking pharmacist and healthcare entrepreneur who founded MakoRx, a company focused on disrupting traditional drug pricing models and improving pharmacy access.

He saw a system that failed patients - charging exorbitant prices for cheaply-made drugs - until he decided to break with the status quo and set about creating a new model, rooted in transparency and focused on patient outcomes, not profit.

— —

We spoke about how drug pricing actually works, why costs vary so wildly, and what needs to happen to make healthcare more affordable and accessible - looking ahead to what the future of pharmacy might hold.

https://www.linkedin.com/company/makorx

Follow me on Instagram and Facebook @ericfethkemd and checkout my website at www.EricFethkeMD.com.

My brand new book, The Privilege of Caring, is out now on Amazon! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CP6H6QN4