We are thrilled to announce that, as a direct outcome of the Canberra Roundtable convened in late March and led by Emerge Australia with the support of Open Medicine Foundation Australia, the Australian government has committed funding to update the clinical guidelines for ME/CFS and Long COVID.
The current clinical guidelines for ME/CFS are over 20 years old and do not reflect the latest international best practices. Updating these guidelines is a significant milestone in ensuring that patients receive the most effective and up-to-date care possible, and are not subject to dangerous practices that are now known to worsen these conditions.
The new guidelines will be developed through a rigorous process spearheaded by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), with thorough consultation and collaboration with all stakeholder groups over a two to three-year period. This comprehensive approach will involve input from:
- Patients: Ensuring their experiences and needs are at the forefront.
- Healthcare Professionals: Leveraging their frontline insights and expertise.
- Experts: Incorporating the latest scientific research and global best practices.
This announcement represents a monumental step forward in providing better care and support for over 250,000 Australians living with ME/CFS and the many more affected by Long COVID. We are delighted to see this commitment to improving the quality of life for these individuals through informed, compassionate, and effective medical care.
We hope that this important first step acknowledges the broader support needed by a community of people who have been underserved by the healthcare system for decades and that it leads to more funding for medical research in the near future.
