DMC Liver Fest 2026 Spotlights Critical Shortage; Govt Pledges Public Liver Transplants
Over 50 Million Suffer From Liver Diseases In Bangladesh; Only 140 Specialists Available
- One in every three citizens affected by fatty liver; 8.5 million carry Hepatitis B virus
Highlighting a deepening public health vulnerability across the country, medical specialists revealed that one in every three individuals in Bangladesh is affected by fatty liver disease, with the aggregate burden of various hepatic conditions exceeding 50 million patients
The empirical health data was presented at "DMC Liver Fest 2026," hosted by the Department of Hepatology of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) at the Milan Auditorium on Saturday, 24 October 2026
Delivering insights during the scientific plenary, Dr. Saiful Islam, Associate Professor in the Department of Hepatology at Bangladesh Medical University (BMU), stated that approximately 40 million individuals are living with fatty liver conditions
Brigadier General A. K. M. Farhad Hossain, Director of DMCH, cautioned against unmoderated modern lifestyle habits, citing high intake of junk and ultra-processed foods, lack of routine exercise, erratic sleep schedules, and excessive digital screen immersion as critical behavioral risk factors driving hepatic damage across young demographics
Highlighting the asymptomatic nature of the condition, Prof. Dr. Shahinul Alam, Chairman of the Department of Hepatology at BMU, noted that because the liver rarely exhibits pronounced symptoms in early stages of deterioration, patients routinely present at hospitals with advanced-stage fibrosis or organ failure
Addressing the summit, Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Prof. Dr. Pravat Chandra Biswas announced that the government is mobilizing resources to introduce liver transplant surgeries within public tertiary hospitals, committing sustained policy and infrastructure backing to expand advanced hepatology services.
//DBTech/Correspondent/Edited/Output//
Highlighting a deepening public health vulnerability across the country, medical specialists revealed that one in every three individuals in Bangladesh is affected by fatty liver disease, with the aggregate burden of various hepatic conditions exceeding 50 million patients
The empirical health data was presented at "DMC Liver Fest 2026," hosted by the Department of Hepatology of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) at the Milan Auditorium on Saturday, 24 October 2026
Delivering insights during the scientific plenary, Dr. Saiful Islam, Associate Professor in the Department of Hepatology at Bangladesh Medical University (BMU), stated that approximately 40 million individuals are living with fatty liver conditions
Brigadier General A. K. M. Farhad Hossain, Director of DMCH, cautioned against unmoderated modern lifestyle habits, citing high intake of junk and ultra-processed foods, lack of routine exercise, erratic sleep schedules, and excessive digital screen immersion as critical behavioral risk factors driving hepatic damage across young demographics
Highlighting the asymptomatic nature of the condition, Prof. Dr. Shahinul Alam, Chairman of the Department of Hepatology at BMU, noted that because the liver rarely exhibits pronounced symptoms in early stages of deterioration, patients routinely present at hospitals with advanced-stage fibrosis or organ failure
Addressing the summit, Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Prof. Dr. Pravat Chandra Biswas announced that the government is mobilizing resources to introduce liver transplant surgeries within public tertiary hospitals, committing sustained policy and infrastructure backing to expand advanced hepatology services.
//DBTech/Correspondent/Edited/Output//
