The healthcare system in many countries, particularly in the United States, is often criticized for being inefficient, expensive, and inaccessible. One of the primary reasons for the shortcomings of healthcare is the rising cost of medical services and treatments. 

Healthcare in the U.S. is notoriously expensive, with prices for basic services like doctor visits, hospital stays, and medications far exceeding those in other developed nations. This high cost is driven by various factors, including administrative overhead, the complexity of insurance systems, and the pricing power of pharmaceutical companies and medical providers. 

Many people are unable to afford necessary care, leading to worse health outcomes, delayed treatments, and financial strain for both individuals and the economy as a whole.

Another issue that plagues the healthcare system is the lack of access to care, especially for marginalized and low-income populations. In many places, there are significant barriers to accessing quality healthcare, such as a lack of insurance, transportation challenges, or simply a shortage of healthcare providers in certain areas. 

Rural communities for example, often experience a shortage of doctors and hospitals, forcing people to travel long distances for medical attention. Even when healthcare services are available, individuals without insurance or with inadequate coverage may avoid seeking care due to the cost, leading to untreated conditions that could have been managed more effectively if caught earlier. 

This inequality in access perpetuates health disparities and undermines the overall effectiveness of the system.

The U.S. healthcare system also suffers from a lack of coordination between providers, leading to fragmented care. Patients often see multiple specialists for different issues, and there is little integration of their medical histories across providers. This can result in redundant tests, conflicting treatment plans, and a lack of continuity in care.

With the emphasis on specialists rather than general practitioners, patients sometimes find themselves navigating a maze of different providers without a clear, cohesive strategy for their health. This disjointed approach not only makes it harder for patients to understand their own health conditions, but it also increases the likelihood of medical errors, misdiagnoses, and unnecessary procedures, all of which can contribute to poorer health outcomes.

The profit-driven nature of many healthcare organizations is another major factor that detracts from the quality of care. 

In systems where private companies dominate, the bottom line often takes precedence over patient care. Insurance companies, hospitals, and pharmaceutical companies may prioritize maximizing profits, which can result in the denial of necessary treatments, overcharging for services, and a lack of transparency in pricing. 

In some cases, this profit motive leads to overtreatment or the prescription of expensive medications that may not be the best course of action for a patient’s health. This system, which treats healthcare as a commodity rather than a fundamental right, often puts the financial interests of corporations ahead of the well-being of individuals.

Additionally, the bureaucracy and administrative complexity of the healthcare system contribute to inefficiency and frustration. From the paperwork involved in getting insurance coverage to the complicated billing procedures, navigating the healthcare system can be an overwhelming task for patients, especially those without sufficient resources or knowledge. 

Insurance companies and healthcare providers often have competing interests and systems that are not aligned, leading to delays, errors, and confusion in billing. Patients may face unexpected medical bills, denied claims, or even be left with insurmountable debt for treatments that they thought would be covered by their insurance. 

This administrative burden detracts from the focus on patient care and adds another layer of stress for individuals seeking treatment.

Finally, the focus on reactive rather than preventative care is a major flaw in many healthcare systems. Healthcare tends to be more focused on treating illnesses and conditions once they have developed, rather than emphasizing prevention, early intervention, and health promotion. This reactive model leads to higher costs and poorer outcomes, as it’s often more expensive and difficult to treat advanced stages of illness than to prevent them in the first place. 

Chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and obesity could be mitigated through preventative measures such as regular screenings, healthier lifestyles, and better management of risk factors. However, the emphasis on treating illness after it occurs, rather than preventing it, perpetuates the inefficiencies and high costs associated with healthcare.

All in all, the healthcare system’s flaws, rising costs, unequal access, fragmented care, profit-driven motives, bureaucratic inefficiencies, and a focus on reactive treatment are all significant factors that contribute to its poor performance. These problems often result in worse health outcomes for patients, with many individuals experiencing delays in treatment, unnecessary suffering, or financial distress due to the system’s failings. 

Civil unrest has already sparked amidst these structural inequalities in the most abrupt and violent fashion. United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson was shot dead Wednesday, Dec. 4 on a midtown Manhattan sidewalk, in what is being reported as a targeted attack based on Thompson’s own role in shifting his company’s strategy towards what he called “value based care.”

Thompson’s own plans to have UH deny payment for ‘non critical’ emergency room visits does highlight a separation from the upper and lower class, making it a challenge for investigators to narrow down who could be the culprit in this murder.

The lines between U.S. healthcare and income inequality are becoming increasingly blurred, as this news story puts the healthcare system in the front and center of the national conversation and many citizens are using this spotlight to discuss what is truly owed to the American public.

As much as the national conversation is erupting from this crime, it is an undeniable imperative that only proper legislation will bend the issue towards peace and public health.

Addressing these issues will require fundamental changes to how healthcare is delivered, funded, and managed, with a focus on making care more affordable, accessible, and patient-centered. Until these systemic issues are addressed, the healthcare system will continue to fall short of meeting the needs of the people it is designed to serve.