Funding is critically needed in four key areas to support people in Canada living with long Covid.
1. Public Education and Awareness Campaigns
Objective: Increase public awareness of Covid and long Covid risks, symptoms, and the need for early diagnosis and treatment in order to minimize the number of people who will develop long Covid, and the subsequent impact on the economy.
Why: Without proper education, long Covid cases will continue to rise, and many patients will continue to struggle with identifying that they even have long Covid. This will limit the ability to get proper care. Misinformation and disinformation abound and we need accurate information more than ever.
Specific Request: Fund a nationwide science-based public education campaign aimed at informing Canadians about the ongoing risks and impacts of Covid (re)infections and of long Covid.
2. Increased Funding for Long Covid Research and Diagnostic Tools
Objective: Fund large-scale, multidisciplinary studies— particularly women and children—to understand the causes, prevalence, and long-term effects of long Covid and to implement clear diagnostic criteria for the condition.
Why: Long Covid is a complex, multi-system multi-organ condition that is poorly understood. Research will be essential for determining who is most at risk, identifying effective treatments, and understanding the long-term implications of the disease. There is currently no standard diagnostic test or protocol of tests for long Covid, and many patients are undiagnosed or misdiagnosed.
Specific Request: Invest in national research programs dedicated to the study of long Covid (such as Long Covid Web), including grants for universities and health institutions funded through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), and a CIHR long Covid advisory board including people with lived experience.
3. Training Health Care Professionals, Including Those in Long Covid Clinics
Objective: To train health care professionals on recognizing and managing long Covid. This includes continuing medical education, resources for primary care providers, and training for specialists.
Why: Only one in eight Canadian adults who sought health care services for long-term Covid symptoms reported receiving adequate care (Statistics Canada, 2023 report). Long Covid encompasses a wide range of symptoms—physical and cognitive—that can affect multiple organ systems. Specialized training can help clinicians better understand how to approach these symptoms, identify appropriate treatments, and manage co-occurring conditions, thus improving quality of care. Without proper training, health care providers may misdiagnose or underdiagnose long Covid, leading to delays in care and poor patient outcomes.
Specific Request: Funding for health care training programs—both in medical schools and continuing education for health care workers—that address the latest research, treatment protocols, and diagnostic criteria for long Covid.
4. Enhanced Financial and Disability Support
Objective: Provide financial and disability support for people with long Covid who do not have a clear path to recovery or ability to participate in the workforce.
Why: Many long Covid patients cannot return to work and are not recognized as having a disability in many provinces, impacting their ability to receive workplace compensation, disability benefits, or government financial support.
Specific Request: Recognize long Covid as a disability, expand eligibility for disability benefits and income support, and provide workplace accommodations for people with long Covid who have reduced capacity.
