Vienna is planning a center for Long Covid: decision on location in 2025!

Vienna is planning a center for Long Covid: decision on location in 2025!

A new chapter in health care in Vienna is just around the corner! As part of the “Regional Structural Plan 2030”, a “Competence Center for Post-Acute Infection Syndromes” will be created, which will focus in particular on Long Covid and other post-acute syndromes. This project is not only a response to the increasing number of those affected, but is also driven by comprehensive planning that has already been underway for a year. The center is scheduled to officially go into operation in 2027, with the search for the final location expected to be completed this year, as Kurier reports.

The planned center will provide an important point of contact for patients suffering from long-term symptoms following an infection. The supply situation for these people currently looks rather poor. Neurologist Michael Stingl highlights that there is a high influx of requests for treatment of ME/CFS - a syndrome characterized by extreme fatigue and other serious symptoms. In Austria, an estimated 70,000 to 80,000 people currently suffer from ME/CFS, and interest in specialized treatment options is increasing. The Vienna center will be equipped with a team of six specialists and have capacity for around 5,000 patients.

Care for post-COVID patients

The symptoms of Long Covid and post-acute syndromes are diverse and can have a significant impact on the quality of life of those affected. Experts from MedUni Vienna have determined that the burden of disease resulting from a SARS-CoV-2 infection affects both personal health and socio-economic aspects. What is particularly challenging is the fact that physiological dysfunctions are often not detected by standard diagnostic tests, which means that those affected often experience difficulties in the healthcare system. There is currently no causal therapy for these diseases, but symptomatic treatments can provide relief. The Meduni Vienna emphasizes that the possibility of ME/CFS should be considered in patients with post-exertional malaise (PEM) and symptoms that persist for more than six months.

A new study to improve medical care for post-acute infectious syndromes is already in progress and a national reference center, which has existed since September 11, 2024, will also offer better care to those affected. In addition, various training courses and symposiums on ME/CFS are being planned to deepen knowledge about these diseases.

Financing and outlook

Financing for the competence center has already been secured: around 8.9 million euros will be raised by the City of Vienna, the Austrian Health Insurance Fund (ÖGK) and the Pension Insurance Institute. This commitment shows that the city of Vienna has a good hand for the health of the population and that this development is very important. Those responsible are optimistic that the center can not only improve the supply situation, but also send a signal to those affected that better times are in sight.

The final location decision is expected in the coming months and it remains exciting to see where the center will open its doors. A step in the right direction that could help many people.