Increased awareness of liver diseases pushed

The Hepatology Society of the Philippines (HSP), a recently established liver specialists’ group, believes that it is imperative for doctors and the public to increase their knowledge of liver and biliary diseases, especially viral hepatitis.

A heightened level of awareness hopefully will lead to a reduction in the incidence of serious liver diseases like liver cirrhosis and primary liver cancer. The latter is considered as the second leading cause of cancer death in the country today.

Dr. Jaime Ignacio, HSP press relations officer, said there is a low level of awareness about liver-related diseases in the country, from both the medical sector and the public. One sector which is most affected by this lack of awareness is the labor sector.

"One of the most pressing issues in the country today is the management of hepatitis B. Many individuals with hepatitis B seeking employment have been unjustly rejected because employers have incorrect information about the disease due mainly to inadequate diagnostic workup. They think that a person with hepatitis B will invariably pose significant health hazards in the workplace and will always develop deadly complications, which is not always true. This is just one of the things we in the HSP want to address through educational programs and information campaigns," said Ignacio.

HSP, according to Ignacio, is also pushing for vaccination against viral hepatitis as one of its top priorities today.

The group is setting its sights on the example made by Taiwan where, after adopting a universal hepatitis B vaccination program, the risks of chronic liver disease, hepatitis, and liver cancer were significantly reduced in a matter of 15 years.

The HSP is composed of competent scientists and hepatologists (liver specialists) from all over the country who share the common goal of raising the level of awareness within all sectors involved regarding liver diseases.

For the medical sector, the goal is to share advancements in liver physiology and diagnosis and treatment of liver diseases.

For the public, HSP aims to provide information on the prevention, treatment, and how to handle their liver disease as they go through life.

The group also aspires to constantly engage in medical research and become a reliable source of information for national health policy-making bodies such as the Department of Health and PhilHealth.

The HSP was conceptualized in 2005 by the same medical professionals who now serve as its officers.

They are Drs. Erlinda Valdellon (president), Jose Sollano (vice president), Marilyn Arguillas (secretary), Evelyn Dy (treasurer), and Jaime Ignacio (PRO).

The members of the HSP board of directors Drs. Ernesto Que, Diana Payawal, and Judy Lao-Tan.

Currently, the HSP hopes to have as members by invitation physicians who show sincere interest in or have ongoing activities related to the liver.

In the foreseeable future, the group may consider even non-physicians like biologists, geneticists, college professors, biochemists and even private corporations and NGOs that share the group’s liver-related interest and advocacy to be eligible to apply for membership.