Visit of Demissionary Minister of Social Affairs and Employment Eddy van Hijum to the Post-COVID Expertise Center at LUMC

Last week, demissionary Minister of Social Affairs and Employment Eddy van Hijum paid a visit last week to the Post-COVID Expertise Center at Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC). During the visit, the minister met with patients, healthcare professionals, and representatives of patient organizations, and observed firsthand how diagnostics and treatments are being carried out.

Central to the discussions were themes such as reintegration into work and WIA assessments, highlighting the ongoing and long-term impact of post-COVID on people’s daily lives and employment prospects.

The Post-COVID Expertise Center, which officially opened on 1 June 2025, is part of a nationwide network of university medical centers applying a unified diagnostic and treatment pathway. By pooling data, research, and clinical practice, the centers aim to advance understanding of post-COVID and improve care. The first joint results are expected later this year.

Minister van Hijum emphasized that addressing challenges like post-COVID requires close cooperation between science, healthcare, and policy. Future solutions, he noted, cannot come from government or research alone, but through sustained collaboration among governments, academic institutions, and companies.

This collaborative approach reflects the broader mission of Leiden Bio Science Park, where nearly 500 life sciences and health companies and public partners work side by side to turn innovation into tangible impact. Lessons learned from post-COVID research are expected to inform approaches to other complex diseases, helping to lay the foundation for tomorrow’s breakthroughs.