BMG-Versorgungsstudie: PAIS Care Berlin

Dr. Kirsten Wittke presented the current status of PAIS Care Berlin—a healthcare services project funded by the Federal Ministry of Health (BMG). Based on the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) Long COVID guideline, the project organises coordinated patient care involving general practitioners, specialists, psychotherapists, and specialised university outpatient clinics. The project encompasses interdisciplinary care, physical medicine, psychotherapy, care for severely affected patients, evaluation, professional training, and close collaboration with general practitioners. Currently, 44 practices in Berlin—involving over 60 general practitioners—are participating in the project. The patients enrolled in the programme are predominantly women around the age of 40 who are often significantly impaired in their daily lives; many already exhibit the full clinical picture of ME/CFS. A major challenge lies in providing care for severely affected patients, as existing structures are insufficient for this purpose, making home visits and comprehensive support particularly difficult to arrange. Dr. Wittke also explained that the participating practices are not publicly listed in order to prevent overburdening; patients may, however, ask their general practitioners to join the project.