How do people with Long COVID experience medical care in Switzerland? This was the question investigated by a research team led by Dr Lara Diem of Lucerne Cantonal Hospital. In 2025, Altea invited people to take part in the survey. The results are now available. The anonymous online survey included 333 adults whose symptoms had persisted for at least twelve weeks after a SARS-CoV-2 infection. Women accounted for 81.7% of participants, and the mean age was 45.8 years. The most commonly reported symptoms included fatigue, brain fog, post-exertional malaise (PEM; worsening after exertion), sleep disturbances, and muscle and joint pain. Only 12.6% of respondents reported receiving early and adequate medical support. 45% had to actively seek suitable care themselves. Almost one quarter had received no support at the time of the survey. Access to specialised services was also often associated with long waiting times: 32.1% waited four to six months, and a further 32.4% waited more than six months. 10.8% reported that no such specialist consultation service was available.
General practitioners were the most frequently consulted providers, used by 77.5% of participants. By contrast, only 39% accessed a specialist Long COVID clinic. In Lara Diem’s view, primary care should therefore be strengthened through clear care pathways, continuing education and easily accessible specialist advice. At the same time, sufficient specialist and multidisciplinary services are needed for people with complex or severe cases. In addition, 42.6% reported difficulties with social insurance. Problems included benefits not being granted, insufficient recognition of the condition and lengthy procedures. Participants rated their satisfaction with care at an average of 3.02 out of 5. “The most urgent need for action, in my view, is access to early, competent and coordinated care. […] Another important issue is social security. A chronic illness affects not only health, but often also a person’s ability to work, financial situation and participation in society.”, said Dr Lara Diem.
As a short-term measure, Diem proposes clearly defined care pathways throughout Switzerland: primary care could undertake the initial assessment and management, while defined referral routes to specialist multidisciplinary centres should be available for complex or severe cases.
“We do not have to wait for new medicines or further research findings to improve care now.” – Dr Lara Diem
Targeted continuing education for general practitioners is also important, particularly on fatigue, PEM, autonomic dysfunction (a disorder of the autonomic nervous system) and energy management. Telemedicine could make specialist expertise available outside the major centres and reach severely affected people who are unable to attend regular appointments. Existing services across primary care, specialist clinics, rehabilitation, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and social insurance should also be better connected.
The authors also note the survey’s limitations: it is unlikely to reflect the situation of all people with Long COVID in Switzerland. Because recruitment took place partly through support groups, social media and specialist clinics, people with particularly severe symptoms or negative experiences of care may have been overrepresented. The findings are based entirely on participants’ self-reports and were not verified against medical records. The findings therefore do not show how widespread the problems described are overall or whether healthcare structures influence the course of the illness. They nevertheless provide important indications of where people encounter barriers and which areas should be developed further.
Source: Diem L. et al. (2026): Post-COVID-19 Condition in Swiss Healthcare: Disparities in Access, Delays in Care, and Patient Burden. Healthcare 14, 2220.
