Liver disease affects millions, yet awareness remains low, European Liver Patients’ Association (ELPA) President Marko Korenjak has stressed, in an interview with CNA, on the occasion of the European Liver Screening Tour 2026 that will take place for the first time in Cyprus on the 9,10 and 11 of May.
The initiative includes free, non-invasive liver screening for the public at the Mall of Cyprus, in Nicosia, – Saturday May 9 (10am-6pm), Sunday May 10 (10am-6pm) and Monday May 11 (10am-12pm) – with the aim of raising awareness and strengthening prevention.
Korenjak told CNA that liver disease is often called a ‘silent disease’ because many people do not know they are affected until the condition becomes advanced.
He stressed the importance of prevention as liver disease is increasing across Europe and said that the EU needs to do more.
The European Liver Screening Tour 2026 is an important European public health initiative organized by the European Liver Patients’ Association (ELPA) in collaboration with one of its members, the Cypriot national liver patients association Promitheas, he said, and thanked the President of Promitheas, Yiannoula Koulla.
For ELPA, he added, this is the most fruitful way to connect European policies with local realities.
‘Cyprus is proud to be one of the first countries hosting this initiative. The tour offers free, fast, and non-invasive liver health screenings for the public’, Korenjak added.
He explained that citizens can receive a quick liver assessment in only a few minutes, without pain or complicated procedures.
The goal is to identify possible liver problems before symptoms appear, he stressed.
‘ The purpose of bringing the tour to Cyprus is to raise awareness about liver health, promote prevention and early detection, and encourage people to take liver health seriously’.
Pointing out that liver disease is often called a ‘silent disease’ he said that this is because many people do not know they are affected until the condition becomes advanced.
‘Through this initiative, we also want to support national efforts to improve prevention strategies and public understanding of liver disease risk factors such as obesity, diabetes, alcohol-related harm, and viral hepatitis’ he noted.
Referring to the importance of prevention, Korenjak stressed that prevention is essential because many liver diseases can be prevented or effectively managed if detected early.
One of the main challenges is that liver disease often develops silently, with patients feeling well while damage progresses, he said.
‘Early screening and awareness are therefore crucial to prevent serious outcomes. Prevention includes healthy lifestyles, reducing harmful alcohol consumption, vaccination and treatment for hepatitis B and C, maintaining a healthy weight, and regular check-ups’.
Early intervention not only saves lives but also reduces healthcare costs, he went on to say.
Prevention, he told CNA, must also be addressed at the policy level.
‘As the EU finalises cardiovascular ‘Safe Heart’ plans, liver disease should be recognised as a key but often overlooked risk factor within the broader cardio-renal-metabolic spectrum. At the same time, the update of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan is an opportunity to address liver cancer, which remains one of the most preventable cancers’ he stressed.
ELPA, he told CNA, is advocating for three priorities, recognising that ‘liver health is public health,’ integrating liver disease into national healthcare and NCD strategies, and strengthening early detection, especially in primary care.
‘Once these initiatives are adopted, ELPA will mobilise its network of 39 member organisations across 29 European countries to drive stronger policies and awareness at national level’ Korenjak pointed out.
Invited to refer to the goals of this European tour, he said that first, they want to make liver health more visible across Europe.
He explained that liver disease affects millions, yet awareness remains low.
Second, they aim to promote early detection and encourage governments to include liver screening and prevention in national public health strategies.
Third, they want to reduce stigma, he said, adding that liver disease is often misunderstood, but it can affect anyone.
Finally, they aim to empower people to take a proactive approach to their health.
‘Checking liver health should become as routine as checking blood pressure or cholesterol. Mobile screening units are also increasingly recognised within European prevention initiatives, such as the cardiovascular ‘Safe Heart’ plans, and we are proud that ELPA is contributing to this effort’ Korenjak said.
This year, he went on to say, the tour will take place in seven countries, where they are already seeing strong interest and real local impact.
‘Through a ‘link-to-care’ approach, we are building connections with healthcare professionals, patient organisations, and national stakeholders, including ministries of health’ he said.
Asked about the situation of European liver patients and what more can be done, he said that ‘the situation remains very serious’.
‘Liver disease is increasing across Europe, particularly due to obesity, metabolic disease, alcohol-related harm, and viral hepatitis. Fatty liver disease alone affects a large proportion of the European population’ Korenjak pointed out.
Unfortunately, he said, ‘many patients are still diagnosed too late, when the disease has already progressed to cirrhosis or liver cancer’.
In addition, he noted that there are also important inequalities across Europe.
Access to screening, specialist care, and treatment differs significantly between countries, he said.
At the same time, he noted, Europe already has successful screening programmes for diseases such as colorectal cancer and breast cancer, that ‘clearly demonstrate that early detection saves lives and improves patient outcomes’.
‘Liver disease should receive similar attention within national public health systems. Much more can still be done. We need stronger prevention policies, better education for healthcare professionals and the public, earlier diagnosis pathways, and greater political recognition that liver disease is a major European health challenge’ he stressed.
It is important to consider structured liver screening or early detection programmes in Europe, he went on to say.
Today, Korenjak added, several non-invasive screening options already exist, and medical experts can help determine which approach would be most effective and sustainable for each country.
‘Most importantly, liver health must become part of broader national and European strategies for non-communicable diseases, cancer prevention, obesity, and diabetes. Early action can save many lives’ he concluded.