Egypt Leads Global Push to Prioritize Steatotic Liver Disease at WHO Assembly

TL;DR: Egypt’s Minister of Health urged the World Health Assembly to elevate steatotic liver disease on the global agenda, citing that roughly one in three people live with the condition. The call came alongside the launch of GLI’s updated liver health policy report featuring case studies from five countries.

On May 22, 2026, during the Seventy‑Ninth World Health Assembly in Geneva, Egypt’s Ministry of Health partnered with the Global Liver Institute to host a high‑level side event. Ministers from Bangladesh, China, Qatar, Russia and senior officials from WHO, diabetes and obesity federations attended. The meeting followed the adoption of a landmark WHO resolution on steatotic liver disease.

Discussions centered on integrating liver health into primary care and linking it to broader noncommunicable disease strategies. Speakers highlighted that steatotic liver disease often co‑exists with type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and obesity, though these links are observational and do not prove causation.

Egypt’s Minister of Health, Professor Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, said, “Steatotic liver disease is no longer a silent health issue. It is a growing global challenge that demands urgent political recognition and coordinated international action.”

He added that Egypt is proud to stand at the forefront of global efforts to elevate the condition on the international health agenda.

According to a meta‑analysis of cohort studies, approximately one in three adults worldwide have steatotic liver disease. This estimate reflects data from diverse populations and underscores the condition’s prevalence.

During the event, the Global Liver Institute released the third edition of its Best Practices in Liver Health Policy report. The report includes new case studies from Australia, China, France, Ghana and the United Arab Emirates, showing how liver health can be woven into national strategies.

Policy makers can use these case studies to design screening programs in primary care, promote diet and activity interventions, and align liver health targets with existing NCD frameworks.

For the public, the takeaway is that maintaining a healthy weight, limiting alcohol and getting regular check‑ups can reduce risk, though individual risk varies and medical advice should be personalized.

Researchers note that while the association between steatotic liver disease and diabetes is strong, interventional trials are needed to confirm whether treating liver fat improves metabolic outcomes.

Looking ahead: GLI plans to continue its Pathways to Action roundtable series, with upcoming sessions scheduled in Egypt, Italy, Mexico, Türkiye, France and Spain to support implementation of the WHO resolution.

The next milestone to watch is whether member states translate the WHA79 commitment into funded national liver health plans by the end of 2027.