IHPBA White Paper - The improvement of management pathways and access to care in sub-Saharan Africa for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Abstract

During its 2022 World Congress in New York the International Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association (IHPBA) launched the Legacy Initiative, aiming to create sustainable, positive impacts in host countries or regions by addressing critical healthcare challenges in the field of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary surgery. The 2024 Legacy Initiative focused on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), a region disproportionately burdened by this disease due to a high incidence, limited healthcare infrastructure and resources, lack of screening programs, low awareness, and financial constraints. HCC, the sixth most common malignancy globally, is often diagnosed at advanced stages in SSA, leading to dismal outcomes. The initiative aims to improve management pathways and access to care through a multidisciplinary approach, emphasizing prevention, early diagnosis, curative treatments, potentially life-prolonging treatments, and palliative care. Key strategies include expanding healthcare infrastructure, implementing screening programs, raising awareness, and advocating for policy reforms. The IHPBA has partnered with the African Viral Hepatitis Convention and the African Palliative Care Association to address risk factors for developing HCC, in particular viral hepatitis, a major HCC risk factor. The initiative also highlights the need for capacity building, research, and collaboration with regional and international stakeholders. The 2024 Legacy Initiative aims to drive meaningful change, improve HCC outcomes, and reduce the disease burden in SSA, aligning with the IHPBA's mission to create long-lasting, positive impacts in global HPB healthcare.