Valuable knowledge exchange
From 2e Dutch Long Covid Day (March 21, 2025) was once again a day full of valuable knowledge exchange between researchers, scientists and healthcare professionals involved in post-COVID care. In addition to professionals, patients were also present in large numbers, especially online. The organization was in the hands of Stichting Long COVID Nederland, C-Support and Virology Education. Medical advisor Lous Rijssenbeek was closely involved in the organization of this day on behalf of C-support. As a member of the organizing committee, she mainly focused on the substantive side of the program. Together with Lous, we look back.
“The tone was immediately set very impressively,” says Lous, “with a video by Anil van der Zee in which doctors who are struggling with post-COVID talk about what this does to their lives and their work. That of course makes an impression on a room full of medical professionals. Everyone knew immediately what it was about.”
Centers of Expertise
After a contribution by Alfons Olde Loohuis, medical advisor for C-support, on the similarities between post-infectious diseases (PAIS) such as Q fever, Lyme and post-COVID, new insights were shared in various scientific research areas. (see also the presentations). Lous: “I was very happy that we offered the expertise centers a platform, because everyone is very curious about their work and experiences. They shared their working methods and initial insights. PEM* and POTS** were also discussed. That turned out to be new for many of those present.”
Insights
In the afternoon there was room for in-depth workshops and the presentation of abstracts. “Those workshops were lively,” says Lous. “Professionals were able to delve deeper into very specific areas. For example, about children with post-COVID or about the role of the general practitioner, who is always central.”
How further?
In the run-up to the panel discussion, Stella Heemskerk from Erasmus MC shared the results of the study carried out in collaboration with C-Support Delphi study to the bottlenecks and areas for improvement experienced by healthcare professionals in the care for people with post-COVID. The panel discussion, in which both professionals and patients participated, then focused on the question of how to proceed with post-COVID care. We did our utmost to get a health insurer to the table, but they could not be persuaded to participate. Because that care should of course be insured care. We did formulate the way to get there together. It is important to properly evaluate the output of expertise centers and to collect evidence for treatments on the basis of which a DBC (Diagnosis Treatment Combination) can ultimately be drawn up for insured care. We are well on our way. Minister Agema (VWS) stated that day by video that she considers good post-COVID care to be important. Hopefully that will lead to long-term support from research.”
The results will certainly be shared at the next Dutch Long Covid Day, which will take place in March 2026.
* Post Exertional Malaise: a worsening of complaints after (over)exertion. (see PEM factsheet)
** Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome: A sudden abnormal increase in heart rate (tachycardia) after minor exertion. (see POTS factsheet)
