Health Minister Warken to expand Long-Covid care for youth - Germany launches €41M Long COVID initiative to aid young patients nationwide
The Federal Health Ministry is investing €41 million into a new project to support young patients with Long COVID. Known as PEDNET-LC, the initiative will run until 2028 and includes Dresden University Hospital as one of its key partners. The move comes as around 1.5 million people in Germany struggle with Long COVID, with children and teenagers facing particular difficulties.
Federal Health Minister Nina Warken has called for a nationwide care network to help children and adolescents suffering from Long COVID and related conditions. She stressed the need for better access to off-label medications, expanded research, and improved outreach to underserved areas. The PEDNET-LC project, launched in early 2025, now connects 65 clinics and research institutions, including 20 specialised care centres.
These centres primarily treat patients aged 12 to 18, covering not only Long COVID but also post-vaccination symptoms and ME/CFS, regardless of the cause. In Saxony alone, an estimated 300 children and adolescents are affected by Long COVID, with many experiencing severe impacts on their daily lives. Nationwide, ME/CFS—a condition often linked to Long COVID—affects around 80,000 young people. Saxony has already approved a comprehensive care plan for its affected patients, including adapted schooling and local therapy options. Dresden University Hospital will receive about €5.6 million of the total funding to support its role in the project.
The €41 million federal investment aims to improve diagnostics and treatment for young Long COVID patients across Germany. With 20 specialised centres now operational, the project seeks to provide structured care for those most severely affected. Saxony's early measures, including tailored education and therapy, set an example for other regions to follow.
