Germany launches €41M care network for young Long COVID patients

Germany launches €41M care network for young Long COVID patients

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Health Minister Warken to expand Long-Covid care for youth - Germany launches €41M care network for young Long COVID patients

Germany is expanding support for young patients suffering from Long COVID and related illnesses. Federal Health Minister Nina Warken has announced plans for a nationwide care network to help affected children and teenagers. The move follows rising concerns over the condition's impact on younger populations, with around 1.5 million people in Germany currently affected by Long COVID alone.

The initiative includes specialised treatment centres and increased funding for research. One key project, PEDNET-LC, will receive significant government backing to improve diagnostics and care for young patients.

The Federal Health Ministry is funding the PEDNET-LC project with roughly €41 million until 2028. This federal initiative brings together 65 clinics and research institutions to focus on Long COVID and similar conditions in young people. Dresden, serving as the deputy project lead and coordination hub, will receive about €5.6 million of the total funding.

Across Germany, 20 interdisciplinary care centres now provide medical, psychological, and social support. These centres primarily treat patients aged 12 to 18, though younger children and adults with related illnesses, such as ME/CFS or post-vaccination symptoms, also receive assistance. In Saxony, around 300 affected children, adolescents, and adults now have access to comprehensive care, including adapted schooling and local therapy options.

Minister Warken has called for broader access to off-label medications, expanded research, and better outreach to underserved regions. Her push comes as estimates suggest around 80,000 children and adolescents in Germany were affected by ME/CFS in 2023. While exact age-specific data remains unclear, the need for specialised care has grown significantly in recent years.

The new care network aims to provide structured support for young Long COVID patients and those with related conditions. With €41 million in funding and 20 dedicated centres, the initiative seeks to improve diagnostics, treatment, and long-term outcomes. Saxony's model of integrated care, including schooling adjustments, may serve as a template for other regions moving forward.

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