The Overlapping Illness Alliance (OIA) is a coalition of charities working to improve recognition, care and support for people of all ages living with complex, overlapping conditions.   

We are an alliance of charities representing people with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), Long Covid, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder, Postural Tachycardia Syndrome (PoTS) and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS).  

These illnesses often present similar, debilitating symptoms including fatigue, pain, dizziness, brain fog, gut issues and post-exertional malaise. Despite their frequent co-occurrence and shared biological mechanisms, they are still too often treated in isolation, leading to fragmented care and delayed diagnoses.  

These conditions are often overlooked and misunderstood. They are frequently underdiagnosed and poorly treated, leaving people feeling stigmatised or invisible in the healthcare system. 

Together, we can transform neglect into recognition. We can turn isolation into inclusion.  

Let’s build a fairer future where these conditions are recognised, respected, and properly treated.