Andrew Witty, the CEO of UnitedHealth Group, memorialized slain executive Brian Thompson in an op-ed and acknowledged industry flaws.

(Reuters) -UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty called the U.S. healthcare system flawed and said the company, along with employers and governments, needs to work on the way it explains insurance coverage decisions.

UnitedHealth’s chief executive on Friday called for the healthcare system to be overhauled, following the emotional and angry reaction many had to the murder of one of the company’s senior executives.

The killing has ignited an outpouring of anger from Americans struggling to receive and pay for medical care and has called fresh attention to deepening resentment over health coverage. Witty said he and his colleagues were "struggling to make sense of this unconscionable act and the vitriol that has been directed at our colleagues who have been barraged by threats.

Andrew Witty, the CEO of UnitedHealth Group, memorialized slain executive Brian Thompson in an op-ed and acknowledged industry flaws.