In 2020, the world changed. The emergence of Long COVID – now, six years later, affecting >100 million people worldwide – shone a stark light on the longstanding neglect of chronic post-infectious illnesses, including ME and related conditions. Instead of catalysing a coordinated global research effort, the impact has been downplayed by governments across the world and progress limited by insufficient policy responses. The ongoing lack of research, validated diagnostic tools, and effective treatment pathways has left millions without care. People living with these conditions continue to face denial and dismissal, resulting in high levels of disability, an immense and growing global health and economic burden, and continued failures in prevention. This is a global issue that demands global solutions.
The international society commits to improving the understanding, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of Long COVID and all infection-associated chronic conditions through science, global collaboration, clinical excellence, and partnership with patients. Through an ethical, non-commercial global collaboration — informed by the history of ME and other post-infectious diseases — we aim to promote equity and inclusion worldwide, improve outcomes for current and future patients, and ensure that the mistakes of the past are not repeated.

The development of the Society is in its early stages. This page will be updated as the work progresses.