A national long COVID and COVID-19 database is among the key recommendations of a unanimous report released today by a parliamentary Committee for its inquiry into long COVID and repeated COVID infections.
The report aims to improve Australia’s response to long COVID, an often-debilitating condition possibly affecting hundreds of thousands of Australians.
The Chair of the Committee, said: ‘It is clear that the emergence of long COVID has created challenges for patients and health care professionals alike. People with long COVID suffer from a lack of information and treatment options. Health care professionals, who worked tirelessly over the acute phase of the pandemic, are now in a difficult situation trying to support patients with this new and poorly understood condition.’
The Deputy Chair of the Committee, , stated: ‘Throughout the inquiry, the Committee heard from hundreds of Australians about what it is like to live with long COVID and how the condition impacts their daily lives. The Committee was particularly concerned to hear that long COVID is associated with poor mental health. The Committee heard that many individuals with long COVID feel isolated, disbelieved, anxious or depressed.’
The Committee made nine unanimous recommendations aimed at strengthening the Australian Government’s management of long COVID, including regarding:
- A definition of long COVID for use in Australia
- Evidence-based living guidelines for long COVID, co-designed with patients with lived experience
- A nationally coordinated research program for long COVID and COVID-19
- The COVID-19 vaccination communication strategy
- Access to antiviral treatments for COVID-19
- Support for primary healthcare providers
- Indoor air quality and ventilation.
Over the course of the inquiry, the Committee held four public hearings and received almost 600 submissions from individuals, organisations and government bodies.
The Committee wishes to sincerely thank everyone who provided written submissions and gave evidence at public hearings. The Committee is particularly appreciative of the time taken by many people who, despite being personally impacted by long COVID, have gone to considerable effort to contribute to this inquiry.
