On Wednesday, February 28, outgoing Minister for Medical Care Pia Dijkstra visited C-support and patient organizations PostCovidNL, LongCovid Nederland and Kinderen met Long Covid.
Sjoukje, Charlotte and Sandra told the minister about the enormous impact that post-COVID has on them, their children and the environment. Their lives have changed completely. Minister Dijkstra was touched by these stories and understood the helplessness and frustration of the patients. She was very interested to hear what support post-COVID patients receive, what problems they experience and what is needed to better meet their needs.
Annemieke de Groot, Sara Biere-Rafi and Diana ter Mull from C-support, talked about the work of C-support, the medical background of post-COVID and the experience with the support and guidance of people with post-COVID. The fact that more than 550 new people with post-COVID still register with C-support every month, surprised those present.
Minister Dijkstra wants to commit herself in the coming period to stimulate parties in healthcare to organize appropriate care, to promote the availability of good support and information for patients and their loved ones and to finance research into post-COVID. "We must ensure together that there is a new perspective for people with post-COVID. I want to commit myself to this in the coming period and I really need parties such as healthcare providers, health insurers and patient organizations to do this"
