Michael Gwarisa
Following the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) proposal to extend the definition of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) to include liver and blood diseases, the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) has expressed its support for the decision.
The diseases proposed for inclusion in the NCD definition include steatotic liver diseases, haemophilia, and other inherited bleeding disorders. The proposal is set to be tabled at the World Health Assembly in May, according to the WHO Executive Board.
The Executive Board resolved on Tuesday to submit proposals to include steatotic liver disease, haemophilia, and other inherited bleeding disorders in the definition of non-communicable diseases at the upcoming Assembly.
In a statement, Jeffrey V. Lazarus, Head of the ISGlobal Public Health Liver Group in Barcelona, Spain, and Professor at the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy in New York, said the decision could significantly transform the global response to NCDs and save lives.
“This week’s announcement in Geneva that the World Health Organization is considering extending its definition of non-communicable diseases to include liver and blood diseases could mark a landmark moment for steatotic liver disease if adopted at the World Health Assembly in May,” said Lazarus.
He added that liver diseases deserve the same attention as other NCDs.
“On the back of increasingly robust scientific evidence, it is encouraging that public health advocates and the medical profession are finally beginning to talk more often about obesity and steatotic liver disease together.”
He also noted that expected institutional support from the WHO was timely and would reinforce the need for more coordinated policies across countries.
“Tens of millions of people stand to benefit from improved and early diagnosis and treatment of conditions such as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, formerly known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. This largely preventable metabolic condition can progress to cirrhosis and liver cancer and affects an estimated one in three adults globally.”
The resolution to recognise steatotic liver diseases, formerly known as fatty liver diseases, was sponsored by Egypt. In a briefing to the WHO Executive Board, Egypt highlighted that these diseases affect more than 1.7 billion people worldwide, driven by metabolic risk factors, unhealthy diets, and physical inactivity.
The resolution seeks formal recognition and systemic integration of liver diseases into the global NCD response, including surveillance systems, prevention strategies, and primary healthcare-based management within national NCD plans.
