Mainz, Germany – Over 100 individuals are currently awaiting appointments at the post-COVID clinic in Mainz, indicating a persistent high demand for specialized care following coronavirus infections. Dr. Christoph Lembens, who oversees the clinic, confirms the need remains substantial.
Despite the ongoing demand, Lembens notes a positive trend: the number of newly diagnosed post-COVID cases is declining. His family practice, co-led with his wife, has operated as a post-COVID outpatient clinic for two years, one of five such facilities in Rhineland-Palatinate.
Diagnosing post-COVID remains complex
Table of Contents
- Diagnosing post-COVID remains complex
- Doubts linger about post-COVID syndrome
- Long-COVID can lead to early retirement
- Emerging treatments offer hope
- Health apps support recovery
- State funding for clinics faces uncertainty
- Funding period for post-COVID clinics shortened
- Rhineland-Palatinate’s Post-COVID Plan: Training and Data Collection
Since its inception, the clinic has seen over a thousand patients experiencing lingering effects from COVID-19. Currently, 50 patients are undergoing treatment, with more than 100 others on the waiting list.
The extensive time required for diagnosis is a significant factor. “You spend three to five hours with a patient,” Lembens explains, emphasizing the need for in-depth examinations and tests to understand the complex symptoms.
There isn’t one blood value or one test that provides a clear diagnosis. It doesn’t make it easy.
Dr. Christoph Lembens, Post-Covid ambulance Mainz
Doubts linger about post-COVID syndrome
Many patients present with symptoms like exhaustion and depression. Lembens emphasizes his role extends beyond traditional primary care, acting as a guide and signpost for patients navigating these challenging conditions.
He frequently refers patients to neurologists or psychiatrists, or sometimes back to their general practitioners. A persistent issue, he notes, is the skepticism some medical professionals still hold regarding the validity of post-COVID syndrome, a stance he actively challenges.
There are still many colleagues who deny that this illness exists.
Dr. Christoph Lembens, Post-Covid ambulance Mainz
Long-COVID can lead to early retirement
In recent years, Lembens has had to advise numerous patients to take early retirement, often part-time. While a significant minority, about one-third of patients, have regained full resilience, the outlook for the majority is stark.
A sobering two-thirds of patients are forced into permanent retirement, often between the ages of 40 and 45. This reality translates to a life lived on the social fringes for these individuals.
Long Covid vs. Post-Covid: What’s the difference?
The distinction between long COVID and post-COVID primarily hinges on timing. Symptoms persisting three months after the initial infection are typically classified as post-COVID, while long COVID refers to ongoing symptoms within that three-month window. While often used interchangeably, the terms carry distinct clinical definitions.
Emerging treatments offer hope
Over the past two years, the availability of “off-label” treatments for post-COVID symptoms has improved. These include specialized vitamin concentrates and, perhaps surprisingly, nicotine patches.
“We hypothesize that with long-COVID, certain receptors are occupied in a way that nicotine or caffeine also affects,” Lembens explains. “This actually helps some people with exhaustion. We have to be willing to try a lot of different approaches.”
Nicotine patches help some people with exhaustion.
Dr. Christoph Lembens, Post-Covid ambulance Mainz
Health apps support recovery
Health applications have also proven to be a valuable tool for post-COVID patients. Lembens notes the availability of diverse apps tailored to a patient’s age and the severity of their exhaustion.
These apps can guide patients through breathing exercises, concentration training, and therapies to improve coordination and balance. Crucially, health insurance providers are covering the costs associated with these digital health solutions.
State funding for clinics faces uncertainty
Rhineland-Palatinate supports five post-COVID clinics located in Mainz, Worms, Kaiserslautern, Trier, and Koblenz. Historically, these clinics have received financial backing from the state.
The Mainz Post-COVID clinic, for example, had been receiving an annual allocation of 50,000 euros. However, the most recent funding period concluded in August 2025.
Funding period for post-COVID clinics shortened
While state officials indicated in June that funding would continue due to the persistent high demand for care, the initial extension for the clinics was only for six months, running until April. Lembens is advocating for longer-term financial support, stating, “We are fighting for post-COVID not to be overlooked.”
Rhineland-Palatinate’s Post-COVID Plan: Training and Data Collection
The state intends to continue training specialists in recognizing and treating post-COVID conditions, even outside dedicated clinics. Furthermore, treatment data from the five post-COVID outpatient clinics, managed by the University Medical Center Mainz, will be systematically recorded.
This initiative aims to build a robust knowledge base, enabling doctors to make more informed treatment decisions based on aggregated patient experiences.
