Newsroom
Millions of people across Europe are living with liver disease, yet many remain unaware they are affected until serious damage has already developed, according to Marko Korenjak, president of the European Liver Patients’ Association.
Speaking to CNA ahead of the European Liver Screening Tour 2026, Korenjak said the condition frequently develops without obvious symptoms, which is why early testing and prevention are critical.
Cyprus will host the initiative for the first time on May 9, 10 and 11 at the Mall of Cyprus in Nicosia. Members of the public will be able to receive free liver checks through fast, non-invasive examinations designed to detect possible warning signs before symptoms appear.
The campaign is organised by ELPA together with Cypriot liver patient association Promitheas, with support from Cypriot Member of the European Parliament Michalis Hadjipantela.
Korenjak said the programme connects European health policy with the realities patients face locally and described Cyprus as one of the first countries participating in the project.
According to him, the screenings take only a few minutes and do not involve pain or complicated procedures. The main objective is to encourage people to pay closer attention to liver health while helping identify possible disease at an earlier stage.
He said the campaign also supports national prevention efforts linked to obesity, diabetes, alcohol-related harm and viral hepatitis, all of which are major contributors to liver disease.
Korenjak stressed that many liver conditions can either be prevented or managed successfully if identified early enough. He explained that patients often feel healthy even while liver damage continues to develop, making routine checks particularly important.
He said prevention includes healthier lifestyles, limiting harmful alcohol consumption, hepatitis B and C vaccination and treatment, maintaining a healthy body weight and regular medical examinations. Earlier diagnosis, he added, can reduce pressure on healthcare systems while improving survival rates.
At European level, ELPA is urging policymakers to include liver disease in healthcare and non-communicable disease strategies and to strengthen early diagnosis through primary care services.
Korenjak also argued that liver disease should receive greater recognition within European prevention plans connected to cardiovascular health, cancer, obesity and diabetes. He pointed out that liver cancer remains one of the most preventable forms of cancer if action is taken early.
ELPA currently represents 39 member organisations in 29 European countries and plans to use that network to encourage stronger public health policies and awareness campaigns.
Discussing the goals of the European tour, Korenjak said organisers want to increase public understanding of liver disease, promote early detection and encourage governments to introduce screening and prevention measures into national health systems.
Another objective is tackling the stigma often linked to liver disease, which he said can affect anyone regardless of background.
He also called for liver health checks to become as routine as monitoring blood pressure or cholesterol levels. Mobile screening units, he added, are becoming increasingly important in European prevention programmes.
This year’s tour will visit seven countries and is already attracting strong local participation, according to ELPA. The organisation is also working with healthcare professionals, patient groups and health ministries through what it describes as a “link-to-care” model.
Korenjak warned that liver disease rates continue to rise across Europe, driven mainly by obesity, metabolic conditions, alcohol-related harm and viral hepatitis. Fatty liver disease alone now affects a significant share of the European population, he said.
He added that many patients are still diagnosed only after developing cirrhosis or liver cancer, while access to screening and specialist treatment differs greatly between European countries.
Korenjak pointed to established screening programmes for illnesses such as breast and colorectal cancer as proof that early detection improves outcomes and saves lives. He argued that liver disease should receive similar priority in public health planning.
He concluded by saying that Europe already has several non-invasive screening methods available and that medical experts can help countries identify the most practical long-term approach. Early intervention, he said, could save many lives if liver health becomes fully integrated into national and European health strategies.
