The creation of the Long Covid Association of Castile and León This marks a turning point for those who continue to suffer long-term effects after contracting the virus. This new group has decided to officially organize to bring to light a reality that, they claim, is barely being considered by the healthcare system and public administrations.
In a context where the acute phase of the pandemic is considered to be over, Thousands of people continue to experience prolonged symptoms which affect their daily lives and their ability to work. The association was created precisely to ensure that these situations are not overlooked and to demand clear, coordinated, and stable measures throughout the region.
A group that organizes itself in response to the lack of response
The Long Covid Association of Castile and León, known as ACOPERCYLIt arises from a shared feeling of abandonment and neglect. Its promoters explain that the lack of social recognitionThe scarcity of specific resources and the passivity of the administrations in recent years have pushed those affected to take this step and constitute themselves as a formal entity.
Its main objective is to make visible the reality of people with persistent covid Within the region, the association aims to represent these individuals before institutions and offer them support and information. It seeks to become a stable partner with both the Regional Government of Castile and León and other state administrations, with the goal of achieving recognition of the magnitude of the problem and adapting healthcare to their actual needs.
In Spain, it is estimated that long Covid could affect between 1,6 and 2 million peoplewith symptoms that last for more than two months and can be highly varied. Although these figures are approximate, they reflect a significant scale, also in autonomous communities like Castile and León, where the group believes that adequate monitoring is not being carried out.
ACOPERCYL points out that, as of today, There is no formal patient registry with persistent COVID in the Community. This lack of official data hinders resource planning and leaves many affected individuals in a health and administrative limbo, without clear recognition of their situation.
Demands on the healthcare system and public institutions
The association is demanding the implementation of specific and multidisciplinary units for the care of long COVID in Castile and León. These units would allow for a more accurate diagnosis and coordinated monitoring of patients, preventing them from having to go from consultation to consultation without a comprehensive view of their clinical condition.
In its list of demands, ACOPERCYL insists that it is urgent for the Ministry of Health and the other institutions to establish common action protocols for the entire community. The idea is that any patient, regardless of the province in which they live, receives similar care, based on clear and up-to-date clinical criteria.
Another key point is the specific training of social and healthcare personnelThe association believes it is essential to strengthen the knowledge of doctors, nurses, primary care professionals and specialists about long COVID, so that they can better identify the disease and offer a comprehensive approach throughout the healthcare system.
In addition to the assistance aspect, the group is asking for a broader recognition of the consequences that patients suffer in their daily lives. Many people with long Covid find their daily lives severely limited, with difficulties performing basic tasks and maintaining employment under normal conditions, something that, they claim, is not always reflected in medical reports or disability assessments.
Real situation of those affected in Castile and León
The association claims that there are hundreds of people affectedAlthough there is no official figure because they are not specifically registered, they are already being counted in support groups and social networks linked to ACOPERCYL alone. over a hundred active members and several thousand contactswhich gives an idea of the magnitude of the problem.
The presidency of the association falls to the woman from Valladolid. Arancha BarniolThe report describes how many patients feel that the healthcare system has "turned its back on them" even though their ailments are not improving. Barniol emphasizes that provinces like Salamanca contribute a significant number of affected individuals to the association, demonstrating that the phenomenon is widespread throughout the country.
One of the main complaints from members is the closure of the specific units for persistent covid in SacylThese specialized consultations, which were operational during the phase following the first waves, have been replaced by a model in which patients are treated by Internal Medicine or other services, without a clear point of reference and with very varied pathologies that force them to travel through different specialties.
The testimonies collected by the association reflect complex situations: people who have been given medical discharges despite needing oxygen for several hours a dayor patients with debilitating symptoms who are urged to return to work without any real adjustment to their duties. According to the group, these cases demonstrate a clear mismatch between the long-term effects of the illness and the institutional response.
Common symptoms and the need for a multidisciplinary approach
The profile of patients with long COVID is very heterogeneous, both in age and health history, but ACOPERCYL points out that some conditions are frequently repeated. Among them, the following stand out: intense chronic fatigue, recurring headaches, the tachycardias and the memory or concentration problems that many describe as a kind of "brain fog".
Faced with this variety of symptoms, those affected are forced to seek help. various specialists: cardiologists, neurologists, internists, pain management units and other services, without any real coordination between them. The association insists that this fragmented model is not only inefficient, but also increases the feeling of helplessness, since each consultation addresses only a part of the problem, rarely analyzing the whole picture.
Proponents of specialized units argue that a multidisciplinary approach This would allow for avoiding duplicate tests, reducing waiting times, and offering better-tailored treatments. For ACOPERCYL, restoring or creating these types of devices in the region's hospitals would be a clear way to acknowledge the complexity of long COVID and improve the prognosis for many patients.
The association also warns that the pandemic may have subsided in terms of hospital pressure, but the virus continues to circulate and causing reinfectionsSome cases, such as that of the president herself, include several episodes of infection, with cumulative consequences in the form of strokes, micro-infarctions linked to coagulation problems, autoimmune diseases, continuous headaches or extreme fatigue that prevents resuming working life.
Labor and social impact and rights claims
One of the areas where the impact of lingering COVID is most noticeable is the workplace. Many ACOPERCYL members are still struggling with the effects of the pandemic. long-term sick leave or they have had to drastically reduce their working hours because they can no longer maintain their previous pace. However, they complain that disability assessments do not always reflect the severity of their situation.
The association warns that these incidents are occurring medical discharges for people with severe limitationsThis puts them in a very precarious position. Cases like that of an affected woman who needs oxygen for much of the day and yet has been assigned to a physically demanding job are used as an example of how a lack of adaptation can lead to health risks and greater socio-occupational vulnerability.
For all these reasons, ACOPERCYL demands specific measures to protect labor and social rights of those who suffer long-term consequences. These demands include greater recognition of disabilities resulting from the illness, workplace adaptations, and the prevention of exclusion, especially for people with fewer resources or significant family responsibilities.
The group aims to make its voice heard by the Courts of Castile and León And ultimately, to the National Social Security Institute, an institution that plays a key role in granting disability benefits and managing long-term sick leave. Its aim is for administrative decisions to take into account the specific characteristics of long COVID and not be limited to the traditional criteria applied to other illnesses.
The experience accumulated by the members shows that the consequences not only affect the body, but also emotional well-being and economic stability. Therefore, the association insists that The response cannot be solely focused on health.but should include psychological, social and employment support, coordinated between different departments of the administration.
The launch of the Long Covid Association of Castile and León represents, for many people, a first step towards no longer feeling invisible and finding a space to share information, support, and common demands. The group hopes that its demands will translate into action. specialized units, clear protocols, professional training, and greater social protectionso that the Community can move towards a fairer care model adapted to the reality of this prolonged illness.
