Long Covid & ME/CFS Patients Face Systemic Failure in Austria, Doctor Reports
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Meta Description: Austrian physician Dr. Dietmar Horst details the frustrating lack of support for patients suffering from Long Covid and ME/CFS, highlighting diagnostic failures and inhumane treatment.
A scathing critique of Austria’s healthcare system regarding its handling of patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), often referred to as “Long Covid,” has emerged from Salzburg. Dr. Dietmar Horst, a physician based in Salzburg, reports a widespread failure to provide adequate care and support, leading to feelings of mockery and humiliation for those seeking help.
Pension System Ignores Mounting Evidence
According to Dr. Horst, a significant number of individuals have reached out following his initial letter to the editor concerning the neuroimmunological illness. He specifically noted the concerns raised by Ms. Petra Gusenbauer and Mr. Roland Henkel. However, despite this growing awareness, Dr. Horst states that the pension insurance institution has offered “zero reactions” to the plight of these patients.
This lack of response is particularly troubling given the consistent denial of assistance to seriously ill ME/CFS patients. The system, Dr. Horst explains, relies on “experts” and psychological stress tests that are fundamentally inappropriate for diagnosing the condition. “It is like measuring the air pressure in a car tire with a fever thermometer,” he stated, illustrating the disconnect between the diagnostic tools used and the actual illness.
Inhumane Treatment at PVA Competence Centers
The core of Dr. Horst’s complaint centers on the treatment of patients within the PVA competence centers – facilities designed to provide specialized care. He alleges that these centers are characterized by “inhumane handling,” actively contributing to the “mockery and humiliation” of individuals already struggling with a debilitating illness. This systemic issue, he fears, will continue unabated.
The failure to recognize ME/CFS as a legitimate neuroimmunological illness has far-reaching consequences. Patients are left without appropriate medical care, financial support, and, crucially, dignity. The reliance on outdated and irrelevant diagnostic methods perpetuates a cycle of misunderstanding and neglect.
Dr. Horst’s report serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for a paradigm shift in how Austria approaches Long Covid and ME/CFS, demanding a more compassionate and scientifically informed response to this growing health crisis.
