The assassination of the CEO of UnitedHealthcare sparks outrage and demands for healthcare reform.

The murder of Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare, has sparked a wave of outrage and reflection regarding the American healthcare system. This tragic event, which occurred on December 5, has highlighted the growing discontent with a healthcare model that has become a lucrative business rather than a fundamental human right. Thompson's death, at the hands of Luigi Mangione, a young Sicilian engineer, is presented not only as an act of violence but as a desperate cry against a system that has dehumanized millions of patients, reducing them to numbers in financial statements. The brutal reality is that each year, around 275,000 Americans lose their homes due to medical debt. In a country where a simple fracture can lead to bills exceeding $40,000, the healthcare model has become an unsustainable trap, where health is commodified and suffering is monetized. This context makes the outcry of a weary society resonate strongly, highlighting the urgency to reevaluate a system that prioritizes profit over life. Mangione's manifesto, found after his arrest, reflects a deep rejection of the policies of insurance companies that, according to him, "prioritize dividends over human lives." The criticism is direct and forceful, pointing to large insurance corporations, with UnitedHealthcare at the forefront, as perpetrators of a "capitalist machine designed to slowly kill those who do not have the privilege of being rich." This feeling of despair is not new; it has been fueled for decades by a system that has normalized exclusion and denial of medical care. UnitedHealthcare, a leader in the sector, reported revenues of more than $324 billion in 2023, a growth achieved at the cost of highly controversial practices. Claim denials, rejection of costly treatments, and rising premiums are just some of the tactics that have unleashed the anger of citizens. Around 27 million people lack health insurance, and each year, more than 68,000 die due to lack of access to basic medical care. This situation has created an unsustainable social pressure, which many feared would culminate in an outbreak of violence. The American healthcare system has operated under a logic of "deny, delay, depose," a strategy reflected in the practices of insurers. These words, found etched on bullet casings at the crime scene, symbolize an institutionalized approach that prioritizes profits over human need. The frustration of citizens has been palpable, and as Michael Moore highlighted in his documentary "Sicko," the struggle for medical care has become an act of desperation for many. As the debate intensifies in the United States, the echo of this crisis resonates in other parts of the world. Spain, for example, is not immune to the threats of healthcare privatization. Although the country boasts an enviable public health system, there is a silent advance towards privatization that jeopardizes the principles of equity and accessibility. The fact that nearly 30% of hospital beds in Madrid are private is alarming and shows how the system is eroding from within. The OECD report "Health at a Glance 2024" reveals that private healthcare spending in Spain has surpassed the European average, accounting for 28% of total spending in 2024. This trend translates into a progressive dismantling of public services, affecting primary care, which receives only 14% of the budget, well below the 25% recommended by the WHO. Long waiting lists and the growing reliance on private insurance are indicative of a system at a crossroads. The death of Brian Thompson is an extreme symptom of a greater ailment, a manifestation of a system that has failed in its mission to care for the population. Health cannot be treated as a commodity, and human suffering should not be a tool for profit for corporations. Compassion and dignity must be restored at the core of any healthcare model. The call for deep reform in the healthcare system is more urgent than ever. Thompson's tragedy could be the catalyst that drives society to demand significant changes. The question that remains in the air is whether this lament will translate into action, into a movement that challenges the status quo and seeks a more humane model, where health is a right and not a privilege. The struggle has only just begun, and the echo of that struggle will resonate in generations to come.