Dispute Over Care for Long Covid Patients

The Ministry of Social Affairs currently considers the care of patients with post-acute infection syndromes such as Long/Post Covid or ME/CFS to be "comprehensively ensured." This is according to a response to a parliamentary inquiry by Member of Parliament Ralph Schallmeiner (Greens) from Minister of Social Affairs Korinna Schumann (SPÖ). Schallmeiner called it an "unfounded claim." So far, patient representatives and experts have consistently complained about severe gaps in care.

Up to 80,000 ME/CFS Affected in Austria

With the Corona pandemic, post-acute infection syndromes (PAIS) have increasingly come to public awareness - and with them ME/CFS. According to estimates by MedUni Vienna, currently between 70,000 and 80,000 people in Austria are affected by ME/CFS. In recent months, affected associations and experts have repeatedly complained about inadequate care - both in the medical and social sectors. Specialized treatment centers for those affected are still awaited despite announcements.

General Practitioners as the First Point of Contact

The Green MP Schallmeiner wanted to know from Schumann in the inquiry, among other things, how many doctors in Austria currently "demonstrably offer specialized care for ME/CFS or comparable post-viral diseases." According to the response available to the APA, the current care pathway states that "the first point of contact" is primary care by general practitioners. "If necessary, a referral to other specialist doctors is made."

Schumann Sees Care "Comprehensively Ensured"

In some cases, a "cross-disciplinary treatment involving various specialists" is required for post-acute infection syndromes (PAIS), according to Schumann's response. With the contract (specialist) doctors, "appropriate contracts for the direct billing of their services with the health insurance providers" exist. "The care is thus comprehensively ensured," writes the minister.

In "complex cases of illness," "further clarification in special care offerings, such as specialized outpatient clinics," may be necessary. "Since the care of patients with post-viral diseases can be assigned to several and/or different specialist areas depending on the symptoms (e.g., neurology, pulmonology, etc.) and their care must therefore be interdisciplinary, a corresponding delineation and quantification is not possible at the present time."

Regarding the question of whether there is a central survey of the actual care structure in the outpatient sector, it was stated that the survey "of the currently available facilities or structures that serve as a point of contact for people with PAIS" is "in preparation." This should take place within the framework of the "Target Control-Health" or within the framework of the "Work on the Target Control Contract 2024-2028."

Sharp Criticism from the Greens

The Green National Council member Schallmeiner expressed his astonishment in a statement to the APA: "This response to the inquiry once again confirms that there are no reliable figures on the care of those affected by post-viral diseases," he said. "Neither the responsible ministry nor the social insurance providers can provide reliable figures. How can one then speak of 'good care' in the outpatient sector? That is simply an unfounded claim."

As long as there are no reliable data, the question also arises as to how federal states like Salzburg intend to "coordinate" those affected in the outpatient sector at all.

The "constant procrastination and systematic undermining of the PAIS action plan" by social insurance providers and states must "come to an end," said Schallmeiner. "It is now time for implementation steps, not further delays. Those affected expect clear actions instead of empty promises."

Calls for Treatment Centers So Far Unsuccessful

The calls for the establishment of specialized treatment centers for PAIS-affected individuals have so far gone unheard. The federal states are responsible here. Schumann himself also emphasized the urgency of research and care in an APA interview in mid-August. Health State Secretary Ulrike Königsberger-Ludwig (SPÖ) reminded in mid-August, among other things, of the financial equalization, through which 600 million euros were made available to the federal states for the hospital sector and 300 million for the outpatient sector. A part of these 600 million euros was also explicitly intended for the establishment of specialized centers for ME/CFS or PAIS-affected individuals, she explained at the time.

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.