Integrated care for chronic diseases: An evolutionary step for emerging primary health care systems

Globally, people are living longer, and many will have multiple, complex chronic diseases. These chronic diseases are often a leading cause of death and disability particularly in emerging developed countries. For these emerging nations, the current trajectory of gradual health system change is likely to lag changing population needs and escalating cost pressures. Consequently, there is a need for a stepwise evolutionary change in the approach to care delivery in these countries. The integrated care (IC) concept describes a collaborative model for organizing healthcare systems, particularly for chronic disease management that pulls together health systems, social science, managerial and patient-centered perspectives. The IC approach could help drive forward efforts to improve population health outcomes, reduce duplication and inefficiency in health care systems, and could be the solution needed by emerging developed countries.