In order to increase the international attention to the prevention and treatment of liver disease and prevent patients from falling into the health threat of hepatitis, cirrhosis and liver cancer, the World Health Organization has designated July 28 every year as World Hepatitis Day. This year’s theme is “I CAN’T WAIT”. , calling on governments of all countries to take timely action in the prevention and control of liver disease. Domestic authoritative experts suggest that liver disease is a national disease in Taiwan. The government has invested a lot of energy and resources to promote prevention and treatment policies. The achievements in the past 40 years have been disdainful in the world. If we want to continue to lead the world, we should accelerate the pace of strengthening liver cancer prevention and treatment.
The key to the victory of the liver disease in Taiwan is the success of hepatitis prevention and treatment, and the extension of liver cancer treatment
According to statistics, one person dies of hepatitis-related diseases every 30 seconds in the world, and 600,000 people die of liver cancer every year. Therefore, accelerating detection and treatment to combat diseases caused by hepatitis is an important part of this year’s World Hepatitis Day. Target. Gao Jiahong, chairman of the Taiwan Liver Disease Medical Policy Promotion Association, said that there are regarding 13,000 patients with liver disease in Taiwan every year, including regarding 8,000 patients with liver cancer, which is a very important disease. Therefore, whether from the perspective of patients or doctors, liver disease, liver cancer Prevention and treatment need to get up and act immediately. Regarding the treatment of liver cancer, Dr. Lu Shengnan, the clinical convener of the National Health Institute, also believes that Taiwan’s early prevention and treatment policies for liver disease are worthy of recognition, but the treatment of liver cancer patients still needs to be strengthened, including the setting of treatment conditions, the scope of payment, etc., otherwise the prevention and treatment results Fear of being overtaken internationally.
The theme of 2022 World Hepatitis Day “I CAN’T WAIT” calls on the international community to treat liver diseases without delay. (Image source / World Hepatitis Day website)
Eliminating liver disease is the government’s determination
Chairman Gao Jiahong quoted the “elimination of liver C, surpassing the WHO, and the government’s determination” written by Academician Chen Dingxin, the Taiwanese liver emperor, at the expert meeting on the prevention and treatment of liver C. He said that most of the causes of liver cancer in Taiwan are hepatitis and liver cirrhosis. Since 1984 , The government has effectively reduced the incidence of chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and liver cancer through hepatitis B vaccine injection, B and C liver treatment programs, etc., and made the achievements of “hepatitis jihad” famous internationally. It is estimated that by 2040, the incidence of liver cancer will be greatly reduced. If the conditions for the use of antiviral drugs in patients with hepatitis B are appropriately relaxed, the risk of liver cancer can be further reduced. He further emphasized that the prevention and treatment of liver disease is not limited to hepatitis, the treatment of liver cancer patients is equally important, and the policy should be considered together as a whole.
Chairman Gao Jiahong emphasized that the prevention and treatment of liver disease is not limited to hepatitis, and the treatment of liver cancer is equally important. (Photo/Photo by Li Yurong)
Can’t wait for the treatment of advanced liver cancer, see new hope for liver cancer treatment from the prevention and treatment of hepatitis in Taiwan
Dr. Shengnan Lu, the convener of the National Health Center’s Liver Cancer Clinical Expert Advisory Group, said that Taiwan’s health policy has been devoted to the prevention and treatment of liver disease for decades, but the treatment of liver cancer, especially advanced liver cancer, is in urgent need of policy cooperation. He pointed out that in recent years, due to the screening policy, the rate of early diagnosis of liver cancer in China has indeed increased, and patients can also receive early treatment. Compared with international statistics, the incidence of liver cancer death in Taiwan in 2018 was 72.5%, which is not only excellent In the United States (77%), it is better than Japan (75%), and the five-year survival rate is also on par with Japan and South Korea, which is excellent. However, a careful comparison of the treatment performance at the advanced stage and the end stage shows that in terms of advanced liver cancer, the median survival rate for advanced liver cancer in Taiwan is 7 months, which is slightly lower than the 2012 European Liver Society treatment guidelines of 11 months, and even less than the updated 2022 guidelines. 24 months recommended. Physician Lu Shengnan explained that this situation is mainly due to the breakthrough in the treatment of advanced liver cancer immunocombination therapy, but limited by the current health insurance system, it is still unable to provide patients with appropriate and effective treatment opportunities. Keeping the good results in the prevention and treatment of liver disease, I am afraid it is not so optimistic, and it is necessary to step up action.
Physician Lu Shengnan said that Taiwan’s health policy has achieved remarkable results in the prevention and treatment of liver disease for decades, but the treatment of liver cancer, especially advanced liver cancer, still needs policy cooperation. (Photo/Photo by Li Yurong)
Jia Shuli, deputy director of the National Health Administration, said that she will continue to advocate and encourage the public to do screening, early detection and early treatment, and emphasized that smoking and alcohol abuse during treatment may affect the effectiveness of treatment, and urged patients to maintain good living habits , Director Li Bozhang of the Central Health Insurance Administration also responded that any effective treatment for liver disease, the Health Insurance Administration has an open attitude, and will continue to discuss with the public and relevant experts, and make efforts to eliminate liver disease!
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