The European Liver Screening Campaign 2026 is being held in Cyprus for the first time on 9, 10 and 11 May, offering members of the public a quick assessment of liver health in just a few minutes.
The campaign includes free, non‑invasive liver health checks at the Mall of Cyprus in Nicosia, aiming to raise awareness and strengthen prevention. Screenings will take place on Saturday 9 May (10:00–18:00), Sunday 10 May (10:00–18:00) and Monday 11 May (10:00–12:00).
‘Silent disease’ often detected too late
The President of the European Liver Patients’ Association (ELPA), Marko Korenjak, told CNA that liver disease is often referred to as a 'silent disease' because many people are unaware they are affected until the condition has significantly progressed.
He underlined the importance of prevention and stressed that the European Union must do more, adding that liver screening should become part of routine health checks.
Free liver health checks for the public
Korenjak explained that the European Liver Screening Campaign 2026 is a major European public health initiative organised by ELPA in cooperation with one of its members, the Cyprus Liver Patients & Friends Association “Prometheus,” thanking its president Giannoula Koulla for her support.
“Cyprus is proud to be among the first countries to host this initiative. The campaign offers free, fast and non‑invasive liver health checks for the public,” he said.
Citizens can receive a painless and uncomplicated liver assessment in just a few minutes, with the aim of identifying potential liver problems before symptoms appear.
Raising awareness and promoting early detection
The purpose of the campaign in Cyprus, Korenjak said, is to raise awareness about liver health, promote prevention and early detection, and encourage people to take liver health seriously.
Liver diseases affect millions of people across Europe, yet public awareness remains low. The campaign also aims to encourage governments to include liver screening and prevention in national public health strategies and to reduce the stigma surrounding liver disease.
This year, the campaign will take place in seven countries, where strong public interest has already been recorded.
Prevention and risk factors
Emphasising that liver disease often develops silently, Korenjak noted that many people feel healthy while liver damage is progressing.
He highlighted the need to improve public understanding of risk factors such as obesity, diabetes, alcohol‑related harm and viral hepatitis. Many liver conditions can be prevented or effectively treated if detected early, he said.
Prevention includes healthy lifestyles, reduced harmful alcohol consumption, vaccination and treatment for hepatitis B and C, maintaining a healthy weight and undergoing regular check‑ups.
Early intervention, he added, not only saves lives but also reduces healthcare costs.
Call for EU‑level action on liver health
Korenjak stressed that prevention must also be addressed at policy level. As the EU finalises cardiovascular initiatives such as the Safe Heart programme, 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 cancer plan offers an opportunity to address liver cancer, which remains one of the most preventable cancers.
ELPA, he said, supports three key priorities: recognising liver health as a public health issue, integrating liver diseases into national healthcare and non‑communicable disease strategies, and strengthening early detection, especially in primary care.
Liver disease on the rise in Europe
Asked about the current situation of liver disease in Europe, Korenjak said it remains very serious. Liver diseases are increasing across Europe, particularly due to obesity, metabolic disorders, alcohol‑related harm and viral hepatitis.
Fatty liver disease alone affects a large proportion of the European population. Many patients continue to be diagnosed too late, when the disease has already progressed to cirrhosis or liver cancer.
Access to screening, specialised care and treatment varies widely between countries, creating significant inequalities.
Korenjak noted that Europe already has successful screening programmes for diseases such as colorectal and breast cancer, clearly demonstrating that early detection saves lives and improves outcomes.
“Liver diseases deserve similar attention within national public health systems. Much more can still be done,” he said, calling for stronger prevention policies, better education for health professionals and the public, early diagnosis pathways and greater political recognition of liver disease as a major European health challenge.
He concluded by stressing that liver health must become part of broader national and European strategies on non‑communicable diseases, cancer prevention, obesity and diabetes, adding that early action can save many lives.
Source: CNA
