An integrated approach for screening and management of noncommunicable diseases and common mental disorders in India: the way forward

This Letter to the editor raises the need for a comprehensive approach to screening and treatment of noncommunicable diseases and common mental disorders, using the situation in India as an example. The authors discuss the prevalence and comorbidity of these disease groups as a prerequisite for changing the concept of primary care, propose a framework for an integrative approach, discuss the benefits of its implementation for healthcare, and discuss future developments in addressing this organizational challenge.