New post-COVID expertise centre launched in Leiden
As of 1 June, the Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC) has officially opened a specialised expertise centre for adults suffering from long-term post-COVID symptoms. With this development, LUMC joins a growing national network of medical centres, which already include Amsterdam UMC, Erasmus MC, and Maastricht UMC+. Later this year, the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), Radboudumc, and UMC Utrecht will also join the initiative.
National strategy, Leiden knowledge
The launch of the Leiden centre marks an important step in the nationwide coordination of post-COVID care. These centres are not only provide specialised medical support but also play a crucial role in accelerating scientific insights into treatment and recovery.
In close cooperation with the Dutch Federation of University Medical Centres (NFU), the Dutch Association of Health Insurers, and various patient organisations, all centres follow a shared care protocol. This standardised approach enables new locations to start operating quickly and efficiently.
The expertise centres are set up as temporary initiative and will be funded until the end of 2026. Their dual objective is to deliver focused care to a specific patient group and to facilitate knowledge development that can later be shared with general practioners and broader healthcare providers.
Acces to care via GP Referral
Patients may be referred to an expertise centre through their general practitioner. All referrals are centrally managed and randomly assigned across the centres, regardless of the date of registration. Since 1 May, patients may also be referred to a centre outside their own region. If travel is not feasible, they may choose to wait for a location closer to home. Since February 2025, children with post-COVID symptoms have been able to access care at specialised centres in Amsterdam UMC, Maastricht UMC+, and UMC Utrecht. At this time, no new centres are planned for this group.
