Lunch symposium: Addressing Long COVID burden for patients and health systems in Europe 

Friday 14 November, 12:55 – 13:55 (Helsinki time) 


Organised by:

OECD

Background

Long COVID has emerged as a long-term consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic, affecting an estimated 1 in 20 people. European countries are working to coordinate their health systems to recognise and adapt to the disease burden of this condition. Beyond its negative health effects for patients, the debilitating nature of Long COVID has socioeconomic consequences, impacting employment and productivity. As a novel condition, Long COVID requires recognition to support accurate surveillance, prompt diagnosis, and updated evidence to guide clinical guidelines and best practice for healthcare workers and patients. This symposium will present the actions of the European Commission’s Long COVID initiative, launched in 2023 and co-led by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the WHO Regional Office for Europe.

Objectives

  • Outline the strategic actions of the European Commission initiative Long COVID patients: Insight and actions, and the Network of Expertise for Long COVID
  • Present the findings of the policy mapping survey of Long COVID initiatives across 15 OECD countries in 2025 and estimates of the socioeconomic costs of Long COVID
  • Present development of a WHO Academy training course for healthcare professionals on Long COVID essentials: diagnosis, management and communication with patients.
  • Showcase an example of a national initiative to address the health system challenge of Long COVID from the German Federal Ministry of Health
  • Review the WHO initiatives on the evolving case definition, clinical guidelines, risk communication, community engagement and infodemic management for Long COVID

Presentations

Long COVID initiative of the European Commission – Insights for Action and the NELC
DG SANTE European Commission, Stefan Schreck

Mapping policy actions and estimating the socioeconomic cost of Long COVID
OECD, Frederico Guanais

Addressing gaps and developing training on Long COVID for healthcare workers
OECD, David Kelly

A nationally coordinated health system response – the BMG Long COVID initiative
BMG Federal Ministry of Health Germany, Véronique Héon-Klin

Evolving case definitions, clinical guidelines, risk communication, community engagement and infodemic management for Long COVID
WHO Regional office for Europe, Aliya Kosbayeva

Registration not required

Registration is not required. Delegates who are registered for the main EPH Conference can attend free of charge. Get your lunch in the Exhibiton / Catering Area, walk in and join the session.