After a years-long battle, the Spanish Ministry of Health on Friday, July 4, 2025, took a historic step: Long Covid has been officially recognized for the first time as a chronic disease. This groundbreaking decision, which requires a priority approach, is “wonderful” news for the estimated two million patients in Spain who suffer from its lingering symptoms and have often faced incomprehension from institutions.
The Long Road to Visibility: A Victory for Long Covid Patients
“They left us to God’s hand,” explains José Méndez, president of the Madrid Association for Persistent Covid (AMACOP), to RTVE.es. This statement summarizes the frustration and isolation of many Long Covid patients. For months, associations from various autonomous communities met with the Ministry to demand the inclusion of their illness in the strategy to combat chronicity. The goal was to bring Long Covid out of “limbo” and enable a clear “roadmap within the health system,” according to Delphine Crespo, president of Long Covid Aragón.
A first important step was the adoption of a non-legislative proposal in Congress last November. This motion, supported by all parties except Vox, aimed to improve care for Long Covid patients.
The End of a “Torture”: New Hope for Diagnosis and Treatment
So far, the situation for those affected, whose illness still holds many mysteries, has been a “real torture,” as Méndez reports. Doctors often hesitated to grant sick leave, and symptoms were frequently questioned. “Many still don’t believe in the illness; they think we’ve made up the symptoms,” laments Crespo.
The measure now approved by the Ministry of Health brings crucial improvements. Similar to diabetes or high blood pressure, efforts will now be made for early detection, diagnosis, and categorization of Long Covid. A register of affected individuals – a long-standing demand of the associations – will also be introduced, along with a comprehensive treatment plan and controlled monitoring.
Long Covid: A Complex Clinical Picture with Far-Reaching Effects
There is no clear profile of who might suffer from Long Covid, although it tends to affect women and middle-aged individuals more frequently. It is estimated that about 10% of people who have recovered from the acute phase of the coronavirus experience symptoms 12 weeks after infection that last at least two months and cannot be explained by other pathologies. This information comes from the Spanish Network for the Study of Persistent Covid (REICOP).
According to REICOP, the syndrome can cause over 200 symptoms. The most common include “chronic fatigue, shortness of breath with minor exertion such as climbing stairs or holding children,” as well as “brain fog, serious attention and concentration difficulties with frequent forgetfulness,” which can manifest as getting lost, for example, says retired psychiatrist Javier de Salas. Other symptoms include persistent cough, chest pain, headaches, muscle and joint pain, or fever.
The Operational Plan 2025-2028: A Comprehensive Strategy for Chronicity
The recognition of Long Covid is part of the Operational Plan 2025-2028 of the Strategy to Combat Chronicity. This plan, expected to be presented to and approved by the Interterritorial Council tomorrow, Saturday, July 5, 2025, introduces a number of new complaints not included in the original Chronicity Strategy from 2012. Ten years after its introduction and an update in 2021, the strategy is now being further developed to ensure more integrated, proactive, and patient-centered care.
In addition to Long Covid, other chronic health problems such as chronic non-cancer pain, celiac disease, and the long-term effects of polio will also be prioritized. For Long Covid, the plan envisages the establishment of “specific care circuits and multidisciplinary follow-up protocols” to ensure an adapted, comprehensive, and evidence-based response.
Chronicity Affects All Age Groups: A Look at Children and Adolescents
The document also emphasizes that chronicity affects not only the elderly but also children and adolescents with complex illnesses requiring specialized treatment. The plan therefore urges the “identification and stratification” of this population group to promote continuity of care and social and health resources. The goal is to reduce the impact on pediatric patients and their families, improve their quality of life, and facilitate home care.
The official recognition of Long Covid as a chronic disease marks a turning point for millions of affected individuals in Spain. It paves the way for improved care, research, and a better understanding of this complex condition.
