EXPLORING INTEGRATED CARE IN PRIMARY HEALTHCARE

This qualitative study explored the perspectives of private primary healthcare professionals in Almaty on integrated care within primary healthcare (PHC). The study found that integrated care is viewed as a collaborative, coordinated approach involving multidisciplinary teams, addressing both medical and social services. Most respondents reported partial implementation of integrated care, but barriers such as insufficient funding, workforce shortages, poor coordination, and a lack of a unified information system were common. Key challenges included the need for staff training, improving team motivation, and modernizing IT systems. To enhance integrated care, the study recommends addressing funding gaps, focusing on workforce development, upgrading IT infrastructure, and establishing clear policies for interdepartmental coordination to improve patient-centered care.