Dispute Over Care for Long Covid Sufferers

The Ministry of Social Affairs 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 Social Minister Korinna Schumann (SPÖ). Schallmeiner saw this as an "unfounded claim." Patient representatives described the statements as "in no way" comprehensible - and see an "emergency situation."

It is "completely incomprehensible how comprehensive care can be claimed without any factual basis, especially since this portrayal diametrically contradicts the realities in practice," said the Austrian Society for ME/CFS (ÖG ME/CFS) in a statement to the APA regarding the statements from the Ministry of Social Affairs on Tuesday afternoon. The policy here argues "past the reality of life for tens of thousands of ME/CFS sufferers" and ignores "the experiences of both the patients and the few medical experts in the country," said Vice-Chairwoman Sandra Leiss.

Patient Organization: "Clear Emergency Situation"

While the ministry has so far completely failed to collect reliable data through a care study, all available observational data show a "clear emergency situation," according to the ÖG ME/CFS. It is particularly irritating "that we had a very constructive exchange with the Ministry of Health as recently as August, in which we were assured that they were aware of the poor care situation and the urgent need for action and wanted to adopt the PAIS action plan as a prerequisite for concrete measures."

Up to 80,000 ME/CFS Sufferers in Austria

With the Corona pandemic, post-acute infection syndromes (PAIS) have increasingly come to public attention - and with them ME/CFS. According to estimates by MedUni Vienna, between 70,000 and 80,000 people in Austria are currently 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 First Point of Contact

The Green Member of Parliament 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 to the inquiry available to the APA, it is stated that according to the current care pathway, "the first point of contact" is primary care by general practitioners. "If necessary, a referral to further specialist doctors is made."

Schumann Sees Care "Comprehensively Ensured"

In some cases, post-acute infection syndromes (PAIS) require "interdisciplinary treatment involving various specialists," it was stated in Schumann's response. Contracts with the contracted (specialist) doctors exist "for the direct billing of their services with the health insurance providers." "This ensures comprehensive coverage," writes the Minister.

In "complex cases of illness," "further clarification in specialized care offerings, such as specific specialist 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 "Health Target Governance" or within the framework of the "Work on the Target Governance Contract 2024-2028."

Sharp Criticism from the Greens

The Green National Council member Schallmeiner expressed surprise 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 even intend to "coordinate" those affected in the outpatient sector.

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 and PAIS-affected individuals, she explained at the time.

(APA/Red)

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