Thursday, 17 March 2022, from 14:00−15:30 (UTC/GMT+1 or CET)

Languages: Simultaneous interpretation in English, French, German and Spanish (Simultaneous interpretation – Frequently Asked Questions)

Organized in collaboration with the ISSA Special Working Group on Rehabilitation

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 10–20 per cent of people experience persistent or new onset symptoms after three months following COVID-19.

COVID-19 can cause long-term health problems and symptoms that interfere with daily activities. In some cases, these can persist beyond 12 weeks, now referred to as “post COVID-19 condition”, also known as “long COVID”, or “post COVID-19 syndrome”. COVID-19 creates significant challenges for rehabilitation services around the world, increases rehabilitation needs – both for patients who are critically unwell with the disease, and for those who continue to experience the long-term consequences of their illness. These patients experience a variety of problems with normal functioning, such as limitations in self-care, mobility and return to work.

This webinar will reflect on how social security institutions can contribute to address these increased rehabilitation needs in the best way possible. It will offer the possibility to share the precious expertise on post COVID-19 syndrome and guidance of the WHO, illustrated by innovative approaches developed by ISSA members.

Join us for this ISSA Webinar on rehabilitation, the fifth of a series of webinars on various aspects of this major challenge related to the ISSA’s four triennial topical priorities.

Speakers

	Dr Wouter De Groote, Technical Adviser, Rehabilitation Programme, Non-communicable Disease Department, World Health Organization (WHO)
	Dr Christoph Gutenbrunner, Professor, Clinic for Rehabilitation Medicine, Hanover Medical School, Germany
	Dr Susanne Weinbrenner, Head, Social Medicine and Rehabilitation Department, German Federal Pension Insurance (DRV Bund), Germany
	Bénédicte Vos, Health Care Consultant, National Union of Socialist Mutual Benefit Societies (Solidaris), Belgium
	Felipe Podesta Barrientos, Kinesiologist, Rehabilitation Institute, Mutual for Safety CChC, Chile

This webinar will examine the following questions:

• The complexity and variability of the damage caused by COVID-19 means that there is no single COVID-19 specific method to determine the need for rehabilitation. How is this being assessed in your country?
• Rehabilitation services should be developed as an integral part of the model of care for people with post COVID-19 condition, and aim at reducing the physical, cognitive and mental health impacts of the disease. Which innovative responses are being developed in your country?
• How can rehabilitation systems and return to work policies be adapted to the changes in the world of work, to face the challenge of the post COVID-19 syndrome?

Agenda

• Welcome by Marcelo Abi-Ramia Caetano, ISSA Secretary General
• WHO Rehabilitation Programme activities for post COVID-19 condition
• Rehabilitation for long COVID: From clinical experience to health care service needs
• International Survey on COVID-19 and post/long COVID-19 – First results
• Long COVID in Belgium: Recommendations and first epidemiological results
• Country experience of Chile
• Q&A – Panel discussion
• Conclusions

Moderated by Nathalie De Wulf, Technical Officer in Social Security, Social Security Development Branch, ISSA

Practical information

The webinar is open to delegates of ISSA member organizations and invited institutions without registration fee.