The Australian Government, Department of Health and Aged Care on Thursday 15 February 2024 released a new national plan for responding to post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC), commonly known as long COVID. The Plan is informed by the recommendations from the federal inquiry into Long COVID and Repeated COVID Infections, which Lung Foundation Australia made a submission to in 2022.
The strategic priorities of the National PASC Plan include:
- Improving primary-care-based models of care available to people with PASC.
- Informing the health sector and the community about PASC.
- Supporting research to increase our knowledge of PASC and guide future policy and clinical care.
Lung Foundation Australia strongly supports the investment into long COVID research in Australia, as was announced by the Australian Government in 2023. Lung Foundation Australia also acknowledges the significant primary healthcare reforms currently in progress.
However, long COVID is causing many Australians ongoing and debilitating symptoms. Lung Foundation Australia’s 2022 community survey found long COVID can cause significant impacts to the daily life of individuals, and more must be done now to support those living with long COVID.
In line with the second strategic priority of the National PASC Plan, Lung Foundation Australia have requested a very modest amount of funding in our 2024-25 Federal Budget submission to expand long COVID information and support in Australia.
With long COVID affecting a significant number of Australians, we strongly recommend this be implemented by the Australian Government and scaled up as soon as possible so that people can access support now.
For more information, please click on the link here to read the National Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 Plan. Or click below for Lung Foundation Australia’s 2024-25 Federal Budget submission.