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ME/CFS: Need for action on medical contact points and PVA and SMS assessments

People who suffer from myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) repeatedly report to the Austrian Ombudsman Board about inadequate medical care, a lack of social security and hurdles that the PVA imposes during assessments for rehabilitation benefits or disability pensions, and about assessors with no specialist knowledge. And they repeatedly report that they are accused of simulation or that the illness is classified as mental, which can lead to stigmatisation of patients. "The Austrian Ombudsman Board criticises the fact that there are still no specialised medical contact points for sufferers. This is a challenge for the federal states," said Ombudsman Bernhard Achitz on the occasion of International ME/CFS Day (12 May).

Patients feel they are being treated like malingerers

Patients who can prove with medical certificates that they are not mobile regularly complain. Nevertheless, they are expected to travel to an examination centre. "I expect the PVA, but above all the Ministry of Social Affairs Service SMS, to provide better training for the assessors. But it's also about the fundamental approach: The assessors could give more credence to the patients and the findings. However, many feel they are being treated as potential malingerers."

"Patients who are not mobile should be assessed at home. If they have to make the extra journey to assessment centres, there is a risk of massive deterioration in their health," says Achitz: "Time and again, insurance providers and authorities accommodate those patients who have turned to the Ombudsman Board. This is very welcome, but not enough," says Achitz: "I appeal to the PVA, but also to other public authorities, to make home visits to ME/CFS sufferers the standard for patients who cannot be transported - even in cases where no one has contacted the Ombudsman Board."

Social security

ME/CFS sufferers also frequently turn to the Ombudsman Board because they encounter major obstacles to their social security. In most cases, the pension insurance (PVA) is responsible for both the care allowance and the rehabilitation allowance or disability pension. The Ombudsman Board has been able to successfully intervene in some cases where, for example, medical findings were not taken into account and claims were therefore rejected.

Patients who have lost their health insurance cover also turn to the Ombudsman Board. This mainly affects people who have been "taxed out" of health insurance (entitlement to sickness benefit has been exhausted) and do not (yet) receive any other benefits (e.g. rehab money), but are unable to work due to their state of health. "They usually have to make sure they remain insured themselves," says Achitz.

Translation was AI-generated

Blonde, middle-aged woman lying ill in bed. Ombudsman Achitz: Patients who are not mobile should be assessed at home. Picture credits: Highwaystarz-Photography / iStock