Pharmacy Daily | $50m for PASC

THE Federal Govt will provide a further $50m from the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) for research into post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) - commonly known as Long COVID.

This is in addition to funding that has already been provided for research related to Long COVID, including more than $13m from the MRFF, $1.6m from the National Health and Medical Research Council, and $5m from the Australian Partnership for Preparedness Research on Infectious Disease Emergencies.

The Dept of Health spokesperson said this new funding will help improve knowledge of Long COVID in the Australian context and generate evidence to inform policy and clinical guidance, improve health outcomes, and increase awareness of the condition in the community.

The first grant opportunity is expected to open in Aug.

The funding comes as the final report from the House Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Sport's Inquiry into Long COVID and Repeated COVID Infections was tabled in the Australian Parliament this week.

The committee, chaired by Dr Mike Freelander, made a number of recommendations in its final report, which was informed by more than 560 submissions and testimonies from a wide range of sources.