The European Commission is launching a significant initiative today, led by Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides, to address the challenges posed by Long Covid, with a budget of approximately two million euros.

This initiative aims to provide clinical guidance to EU member states, support affected patients and caregivers, and assess the consequences of Long Covid.

In addition, it will identify research gaps and needs related to Long Covid, ensuring that the response is comprehensive and informed.

A key component of the project will be a training program for healthcare professionals, which will facilitate the exchange of information and best practices.

The initiative will promote coordination among EU member states, improving surveillance and the comparability of health data across the region.

The project will be funded through the EU4Health program and managed by the World Health Organization (WHO) in collaboration with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

Kyriakides launched this initiative at an OECD conference focused on Long Covid, emphasizing the need for support for affected individuals.

The WHO has reported that approximately 36 million people in Europe have been affected by Long Covid in the first three years of the pandemic.

Moreover, the European Commission estimates that Long Covid has cost the EU economy between 0.2 and 0.3 percent of its GDP due to reduced labor supply.

Factors contributing to Long Covid include direct damage from the virus and abnormal immune responses, with risk factors such as older age, female sex, obesity, and type 2 diabetes.

Long Covid is characterized by persistent symptoms following recovery from a coronavirus infection, including fatigue, shortness of breath, and dizziness.

Research on Long Covid is ongoing, as studies aim to clarify its characteristics and causes, noting that only a portion of COVID-19 patients experience these prolonged symptoms.