The National Health and Medical Research Council’s (NHMRC) Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/ Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) Guideline Development Committee (ME/CFS GDC) held its fifth meeting on Wednesday 1 July 2026 (part 1) and Thursday 30 July 2026 (part 2). The meetings focused on finalising the questions that will inform the ME/CFS Clinical Practice Guidelines.

Date and Time:  

  • Part 1: Wednesday 1 July 2026 (part 1) from 1:00pm to 3:00pm AEST
  • Part 2: Thursday 30 July 2026 (part 2) from 12:30pm to 1:30pm AEST.

Location: Virtual meeting.

Key highlights

  • Members reviewed declarations of interest and noted that no management strategies were required for either meeting.
  • Members noted outcomes from the Working Group meetings and out-of-session work on the proposed guideline questions.  
  • Members endorsed 20 guideline questions, which include questions about general principles of care, diagnosis, management and care pathways. The next step will involve a mapping exercise to determine how each question will be addressed in the guideline.
  • Members discussed broader considerations for the evidence review, including how related conditions will be incorporated and relevant population groups, such as young people.

Next steps

  • The ME/CFS GDC will meet to discuss the most critical health outcomes to include for each of the evidence review questions. Health outcome prioritisation will be informed by the results of the ME/CFS Scoping Survey conducted in 2025.