Minister of Health and Population Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar affirmed on Wednesday that the adoption of the first global resolution on fatty liver disease by the World Health Assembly marks a strategic shift in the international response to liver diseases.
He also emphasised the need to move rapidly from political commitment to practical implementation through sustainable national programmes capable of delivering measurable public health outcomes.
The minister remarks came during a multilateral meeting he held with senior representatives of the World Health Organisation Regional Office for Europe, the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL), and the leadership of the WHO–Imperial College London Collaborating Centre on Fatty Liver Disease, on the sidelines of his official visit to London.
During the meeting, Dr Abdel-Ghaffar unveiled that Egypt considers liver health an integral component of its broader strategy to address non-communicable diseases and metabolic disorders through comprehensive approaches centred on prevention, early detection and strengthening primary healthcare services.
He also underscored the importance of integrating fatty liver disease prevention into national strategies targeting obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, building on Egypt’s pioneering experience in large-scale community screening initiatives.
Discussions focused on mechanisms for implementing the landmark World Health Assembly resolution and enhancing cooperation in training, scientific research, capacity building and disease prevention.
The meeting also explored opportunities to expand collaboration in developing scientific guidelines, epidemiological surveillance systems and applied research programmes.
The meeting concluded with an agreement to establish a practical framework for future cooperation to support implementation of the resolution and strengthen regional and international efforts in prevention and treatment.
