Long Covid Europe patient group calls for greater regional collaboration and action at WHO European regional committee.

COVID-19 will continue to impact health care systems for the foreseeable future. As of August 2022, nearly 250 million people have had a confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection in the WHO European Region. Current evidence suggests that approximately 10 to 20% of this population develop Long COVID, also known as the post COVID-19 condition. Recent studies indicate that a considerable share of those affected go on to develop chronic illness and episodic disability.

Many health related challenges associated with Long COVID, such as fatigue, exercise intolerance and cognitive dysfunction, limit a person's ability to manage everyday activities, and negatively impacts their participation in work or education. Additionally, there is high incidence of cardiovascular and neurological illnesses following initial infection, including among children and adolescents. While it is too early to have a clear picture of employment outcomes, emerging evidence suggests that Long COVID results in billions of dollars in lost income. In the US, recent data indicates that Long COVID may be responsible for up to 15% of currently unfilled jobs, resulting in USD 170 billion in lost wages annually, with up to 4 million people unable to work due to their illness.

The WHO Regional Office for Europe's side event at their annual Regional committee, held on September 13th; “Health Systems Response to Post-COVID-19 Condition (Long COVID)”, co-hosted by Long COVID Europe (LCE), is a much needed platform with which to inform the scale of responses required for the condition, its impact on individuals and society, and press for action to the highest authorities in health.

Patient groups have been lobbying governments and public health decision makers to act on Long COVID since the early stages of the pandemic. However, LCE is reporting considerable disparities between countries in the recognition and surveillance of the condition, as well as access to quality health, safe, tailored and multiprofessional rehabilitation, and social support services. Furthermore, to this day, there is no targeted treatment for the disease mechanisms causing Long COVID, with only few clinical trials ongoing.

As we continue to learn about COVID-19 and its lasting health, economic and societal impacts, it is imperative that we collaborate to expedite diagnostic and treatment development. Coordinated country and regional collaboration on research needs to be the next phase of the response. Long COVID affects people across the entire spectrum of society. Many of whom are nurses, doctors, physiotherapists, scientists, teachers or social workers. Those living with Long COVID are often experts on their condition with many now in the third year of their illness. Only by greater involvement of those with lived experience at the forefront of all responses including research, advocacy and care, can we make a meaningful difference in the lives of the millions of people living with and affected by Long COVID.

Declaration of interests

The authors have no conflicts of intertest