In a significant move following its ahead-of-schedule success in meeting the World Health Organization’s hepatitis C elimination targets, Taiwan is now intensifying efforts to combat hepatitis B and enhance early liver cancer detection. The country’s Minister of Health and Welfare, Shih Chung-liang, announced that Taiwan’s next public health strategy phase will prioritize reducing hepatitis B infections and boosting liver cancer screening. Additionally, the strategy will address non-viral liver diseases, such as obesity-related fatty liver disease.
Liver cancer poses a major health challenge in Taiwan, being the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths and resulting in over 7,000 fatalities annually. Health officials highlight that approximately 40 percent of liver cancer cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage, which limits treatment efficacy and increases healthcare expenses. To tackle this issue, the authorities are crafting a new national cancer control program featuring a liver cancer risk assessment model specifically tailored for Taiwan’s population. This plan also aims to address the rising concern of non-viral liver cancer.
Enhancing these initiatives, the Good Liver Foundation has collaborated with medical and technology experts to create an innovative tool called “iGood Liver AI.” This artificial intelligence-powered ultrasound technology is designed to detect and analyze liver tumors in real time. By highlighting suspicious areas, it assists in distinguishing between benign and malignant growths during routine examinations. The technology serves as an additional diagnostic aid to support, rather than replace, doctors, aiming to boost detection rates and minimize the risk of overlooked diagnoses.
To broaden healthcare accessibility, the Good Liver Foundation has acquired funding to distribute 50 sets of the AI system to medical facilities in remote and underserved regions of Taiwan. This initiative seeks to expand liver disease screening and promote early intervention services across the nation, particularly benefiting communities with limited healthcare resources.