Together for Better Liver Health

Strengthening Public Health Responses to Metabolic Disease

A Policy Event on the sidelines of WHA 78

Global Liver Institute (GLI), the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL), and the American Association for the Study of Liver Disease (AASLD) are co-hosting a policy event on the sidelines of the 78th World Health Assembly. Join us on the 22nd of May 2025, at the Hotel Intercontinental from 5:30PM-7:00PM in Geneva, Switzerland as we mobilize global support for the formal recognition of Steatotic Liver Disease (SLD) as a Core Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) and lay the groundwork for a WHO Draft Resolution addressing this urgent public health challenge. 

To ensure seamless planning for your participation, we kindly invite you to register your attendance for the event below.

If you have any specific questions about the WHA78 side-event, please contact Lemlem Girmatsion at lgirmatsion@globalliver.org. 

For all inquiries related to the Liver Health is Public Health Program, please contact Giacomo Donnini at gdonnini@globalliver.org

Together for Better Liver Health: Amplifying Best Practices Globally

On May 27, 2024, Global Liver Institute (GLI), in partnership with the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL), convened numerous esteemed key opinion leaders for a policy event on the sidelines of the 77th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland.

During the event, GLI unveiled their report, “Best Practices in Liver Health Policy: A Liver Health is Public Health Report,” which evaluates successful liver health policies from different countries as well as offer valuable insights to promote global strategies, addresses ongoing challenges faced by patients worldwide, and presents comprehensive policies to tackle these issues.

After the presentation of the report, the event continued with two high-level panels, moderated by Jeff McIntyre, MA, Vice President, Liver Health Programs at Global Liver Institute, in which a state representative (Egypt) and specialists from different areas of expertise converged on underlining the importance of having a holistic approach towards liver disease.

Comorbidities such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), hypertension, dyslipidemia, or cardiometabolic risk factors frequently coexist with steatotic liver disease, commonly known as fatty liver disease. Shared risk factors contribute to the simultaneous occurrence of these conditions, amplifying their individual risks and compromising treatment outcomes. 

Patients who live with these conditions should be checked, as early as possible using non-invasive methods (e.g., liver ultrasound, fibroscan, or serum biomarkers). Early detection allows for targeted interventions. Regular screening, lifestyle modifications (weight management, dietary changes, and exercise), and judicious use of medications are essential. 

Watch the recap video below:

Panel 2: Centering Liver Health Perspectives from Different Key Stakeholders

Speakers from left to right:

Kremlin Wickramasinghe, PhD
Regional Adviser for Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity,
World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe

Sven Francque, MD, PhD
Hepatologist and Educational Councillor,
European Association for the Study of the Liver

Milan Mishkovikj, LLM
Director, European Liver Patients Association

Catherine Duggan, PhD
CEO, International Pharmaceutical Federation

Learn more about the program by checking our agenda here.