Integrated care for people with physical and mental disorders

Co-occurrence of physical and mental disorders is the rule rather than the exception. These disorders can have reciprocal negative impacts. The strict compartmentalisation of healthcare into physical and mental domains hampers an integrated approach to patients. The Health Council advises the Minister and Secretary of State to explore the various options for promoting an integrated approach. The following options could be explored: customised funding solutions, improved accessibility of prevention and public health for people with mental disorders, care coordination, and a focus on holistic patient appraisal in the context of medical and paramedical training and guidelines. This is a major challenge, because the compartmentalised structure of healthcare is a complex and wide-ranging problem. It will require simultaneous, coordinated changes in numerous areas, involving many different stakeholders.