A Call for Services: Building the System PCNS Patients Deserve
摘要
Post-COVID-19 Neurological Syndrome (PCNS) represents one of the most significant unmet needs in contemporary neurological care. Despite the growing number of people living with debilitating neurological symptoms after COVID-19, most health systems are still unprepared to meet their needs. At best, patients receive fragmented, uncoordinated care. At worst, they are dismissed altogether. This chapter issues a clear call for the development of integrated, multidisciplinary services tailored to PCNS. We argue that care must be person-centered, evidence-informed, and grounded in long-term neurological rehabilitation frameworks. Drawing from lessons in stroke and traumatic brain injury care, we outline what PCNS services should include—timely diagnosis, coordinated care teams, access to neuropsychological and autonomic assessments, rehabilitation, and mental health support. Importantly, these services must also engage primary care and community providers, enabling scalable and equitable access. This is not a call for complex or expensive redesign—it is a call for smarter use of existing structures, guided by the WHO IGAP framework and powered by lived experience. We must invest in PCNS services not only to relieve suffering but also to protect brain capital, restore function, and reduce the long-term economic and social impact of this disabling syndrome.