Deepak Disagrees Ep 12: Free, universal healthcare! | Murali Neelakantan on how to fix India's healthcare
Sep 30, 2025
Murali Neelakantan, a lawyer with extensive experience in India's healthcare policy, passionately advocates for a system of free, universal healthcare. He discusses the moral imperative of providing care regardless of income and critiques reliance on private solutions. Murali outlines his vision for a state-funded healthcare model, emphasizing efficiency and equal access. He delves into the conflicts between libertarian principles and the need for intervention in life-and-death situations, and he champions simplified procurement methods to enhance care delivery.
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Why Murali Joined Cipla
- Murali joined Cipla motivated by the belief that everyone should have access to healthcare after losing his father to cancer in 2013.
- He shifted from corporate law to advocacy and public speaking to normalise healthcare access conversations.
Equal Medical Access, Not Means-Based
- Murali defines universal healthcare as medically equal access regardless of income or insurance status.
- Prioritisation must be medical, via triage, not financial ability to pay.
Money Exists; Delivery Lags
- India already collects significant funds (e.g., ESIC) but fails to deliver promised healthcare services.
- Murali argues the fiscal obstacle to universal care is smaller than perceived and misallocation is the real issue.