Commission launches project and gathers experts to address Long COVID

On 10 September, the Commission launched a €2 million project, funded by the EU4Health programme, with concrete actions to address Long COVID.

The project will be managed by the Word Health Organization (WHO) and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and will focus on seven key areas: defining Long COVID; developing a surveillance system; promoting the exchange of information amongst healthcare professionals; providing clinical guidelines and recommendations to Member States; supporting affected patients and carers; assessing the social and economic consequences of Long COVID; and identifying research gaps and needs.

The Commission will also create a group on Long COVID for stakeholders and patient groups to share their experiences and knowledge.

Health and Food Safety Commissioner Stella Kyriakides (pictured) launched at a conference hosted by the OECD and the Commission. The conference will welcome experts from different sectors, to discuss Long COVID and how to support patients with the disease.

Commissioner Kyriakides said: “Long COVID has serious consequences for the people who suffer from it, and more generally, our society and economy. The EU project that we will launch tomorrow highlights once again the Commission’s commitment and determination in addressing this disease and supporting patients and their families, in every way possible.”

According to the WHO, Long COVID affected 36 million people across Europe in the first three years of the pandemic and is estimated by the Commission to have cost the EU economy 0.2-0.3% Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in output loss in 2022, due to reduction of the labour supply.

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