The NIH has poured $1 billion into long Covid research — with little to show for it

The National Institutes of Health has spent more than $1 billion on long Covid research. But the NIH hasn’t signed up a single patient to test any potential treatments. The few trials it is planning have already drawn a firestorm of criticism. The NIH and an institute managing the clinical trials defended the initiative, without providing a clear explanation for the delays. It’s difficult to pinpoint exactly why progress is so stalled, experts and patients involved in the project emphasized. It will dictate how doctors across the country treat their patients, and, in turn, impact people’s ability to access work accommodations, disability benefits, and more. The Biden administration has also missed opportunities for oversight and accountability of the effort, despite the president’s lofty promises to focus on the disease. It remains committed to addressing the longer-term impacts of the worst public health crisis in a century, a Department of Health spokesperson said. In 2020, Congress made an investment of $1.2 billion to learn more about the symptoms of long Covids.

Source: Statnews.com  |  Read full article