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In Lower Saxony, a shift towards establishing outpatient clinics with interdisciplinary approaches is underway, particularly for those dealing with neurological and rehabilitation needs related to Long or Post-Covid conditions.

According to the Medical Association of Lower Saxony, between five to ten percent of those infected with Covid-19 may experience Long or Post-Covid symptoms, but precise figures are yet to be established. The variety of symptoms can range from concentration disorders, tingling, shortness of breath, cough, muscle pain and weakness, joint pain, visual and auditory disorders, and more.

Prof. Karin Weissenborn from the Clinic for Neurology at the Hannover Medical School asserts that it is outdated to assume a primarily psychological illness for Post-Covid syndrome. Instead, diagnoses that narrow the illness picture as much as possible are relied upon for post-Covid diagnoses.

Currently, there are only two Post-Covid outpatient clinics in Lower Saxony, located at the Hannover Medical School and the University Medical Center Göttingen. However, the Medical Association of Lower Saxony has called for more Post-Covid outpatient clinics to be set up in the state.

An interdisciplinary approach would benefit post-COVID patients, according to Goeckede, as medical care needs to be adapted to the unique and often complex needs of each patient. Especially when patients' courses are unusual and not clearly explainable, post-COVID should be considered.

Research and clinical care for post-Covid are not yet where they should be, according to Goeckede. The exact causes of Long or Post-Covid are not fully understood, and there are no therapies, according to the Medical Association. Prof. Georg Schomerus from the University Hospital Leipzig stated that people with Post-Covid syndrome are "catastrophically underserved" and often experience discrimination.

Prof. Schomerus warned of a potential loss of trust in medical care due to the complexity of the disease that is often overlooked. Many patients with Post-Covid syndrome feel stigmatized, isolated, and powerless.

In response to these challenges, Lower Saxony is actively developing outpatient, multidisciplinary clinics that integrate neurology, rehabilitation, pediatrics, and related specialties to provide comprehensive care for post-Covid patients. These efforts reflect a broader trend toward interdisciplinary approaches and expansion of outpatient care capacity in the region.

The current state of Post-Covid care and research in Lower Saxony emphasizes the establishment of outpatient clinics with interdisciplinary approaches, particularly for neurological and rehabilitation needs. Notably, a neuropalliative outpatient clinic in Oldenburg, Lower Saxony, demonstrates a multidisciplinary care model addressing diverse diagnostic and therapeutic interventions for patients with complex neurological issues related to post-Covid conditions.

Additionally, pediatric post-Covid cases in Lower Saxony are the subject of research conducted at Hannover Medical School, highlighting ongoing efforts to understand and manage post-Covid symptoms in children and adolescents through specialized outpatient services focused on rehabilitation and pulmonology.

The number of officially registered COVID-19 infections in Lower Saxony is approximately four million. Medical training is being utilised for knowledge exchange, with over 250 doctors having registered. It is important to note that there is no specific biomarker for post-COVID.

[1] Neuropalliative Outpatient Clinic in Oldenburg, Lower Saxony [2] Pediatric Post-Covid Research at Hannover Medical School