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An integrated approach to all risk factors, diseases, and determinants of health has the potential to reduce premature mortality and morbidity from chronic diseases and to strengthen health systems towards achieving universal health coverage, by bringing together health promotion, disease prevention and control, and related programmes across multiple sectors.1 4 6 Whereas vertical programmes such as those targeting HIVand AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria are often financially unsustainable in the long term, integrated health service delivery increases the efficiency of health systems and reduces overall costs by allowing people to receive multiple services in one place or a continuum of services through referral. This is even more crucial in low and middle income countries, where health systems often face severe financial and human resource constraints.6 In addition, integrated care models have the potential to increase access to and quality of care, improve health literacy and self-care, and enhance the motivation, competencies, and skills of health workers, ultimately resulting in higher satisfaction with care and improved health outcomes.1 4

n resource constraints.6 In addition, integrated care models have the potential to increase access to and quality of care, improve health literacy and self-care, and enhance the motivation, competencies, and skills of health workers, ultimately resulting in higher satisfaction with care and improved health outcomes.1 4 However, implementing high quality integrated care programmes is challenging and requires context specific approaches.8 Among the main barriers to implementation are insufficient political commitment; lack of adequate regulatory frameworks, guidelines, and protocols for integrated health service delivery; lack of dedicated, sustainable funding streams and supportive infrastructure; insufficient multistakeholder engagement; absence of a long term vision and plan; inadequate or absent information technology platforms such as shared electronic patient record systems; resistance to change at both clinical and management levels; lack of specific competencies and skills among health workers; and health workforce shortages. In addition, important research gaps exists on the faciltators and barriers to progress on integrated health services. These must be addressed to help inform the development of context specific best practices.4 6 8 9 10

vels; lack of specific competencies and skills among health workers; and health workforce shortages. In addition, important research gaps exists on the faciltators and barriers to progress on integrated health services. These must be addressed to help inform the development of context specific best practices.4 6 8 9 10 A BMJ collection of articles on integrated care in maternal, newborn, and child health and NCDs and mental health (https://www.bmj.com/NCDs-burden-among-women-and-children) brings together experts from WHO, academia, professional associations, and civil society to provide an analysis of the challenges, with a particular focus on low and middle income countries. Drawing lessons from the implementation of integrated NCD care models in low and middle income countries, the collection proposes solutions and identifies opportunities to ensure the delivery of quality integrated services. The articles cover topics including multisectoral approaches to incorporating mental health into care services for women, infants, and children11; increasing access to interdisciplinary education for the health workforce through e-learning12; defining research priorities for integrated care13; inappropriate marketing practices for baby foods14; and using digital health solutions.15 We hope that the evidence presented will inspire national efforts to support the implementation and scale-up of integrated NCD and maternal and child health programmes to help achieve universal health coverage and meet the targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.