["Ultimately, you are on your own." A qualitative analysis of barriers to health care from the perspective of patients with long COVID].

Observed Findings

• 85% of surveyed patients reported that medical and social care providers lack sufficient knowledge about post-viral syndromes.
• 80% reported their symptoms were not acknowledged or were attributed to psychological causes rather than physical illness.
• 56% experienced health deterioration attributable to prescribed or recommended examinations or treatments.
• Specialized outpatient clinics for post-viral syndromes are either inaccessible, not accepting new patients, or have waiting times up to two years.
• Majority of respondents reported feeling weakened, ashamed, or harmed by their physicians.

Inferred Conclusions

• Current healthcare systems lack adequate care structures, competence, and recognition for post-viral illnesses, leading to systematic gaps in appropriate medical and social support.
• Psychologization of post-viral symptoms—combined with recommendation of activating/exercise-based therapies—constitutes a primary driver of malpractice and stigmatization.
• Urgent systemic interventions are needed: rapid provider training, development of specialized care pathways, and monitoring mechanisms to prevent further iatrogenic harm.
• Patients with long COVID and ME/CFS experience systematic discrimination within healthcare systems despite evidence of organic pathology.

Remaining Questions