As the implementation of integrated care services approaches, local governments are facing challenges in readiness, with only about 91.9% meeting the necessary preparation indicators, according to the Ministry of Health and Welfare in South Korea. This reveals that one in ten local governmental units still lack the systems and resources needed to provide comprehensive care services for the elderly and disabled. Integrated care aims to deliver health and welfare services to individuals in their own communities, addressing needs directly where they live.

Despite an increase in readiness from 81.7% a month prior, significant gaps remain. Thirty-six local governments have yet to establish the required ordinances, and more than four have not designated the necessary staffing for care management. The unpreparedness is primarily noted in rural and remote areas, prompting the Ministry to consider specific challenges these regions face, such as limited resources for care services, which hampers their ability to implement comprehensive care solutions effectively.

In response, the Ministry plans to hold meetings with unprepared municipalities to address the barriers they face and to identify specific support needs. The initiative aims to ensure that integrated care is successfully rolled out to help those in need, especially as the program is scheduled to begin on the 27th of next month.