Legacy & Global Collaborations

During the New York meeting IHPBA held a strategic planning session which focused on the legacy of our international congresses.  The bi-ennial international congresses offer unrivalled opportunities to catch up on all that is important in HPB practice and rightfully represent a highlight in the calendar.  The strategic planning group agreed that it was important to build on the interest generated by congress.

The Association has now made a commitment to effect meaningful and long-lasting change which reflects IHPBA’s vision, mission and goals in the regions or continents where congresses are hosted.

For the 2024 World Congress, legacy initiatives will focus on the improvement of management pathways and access to care in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) for patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). As the challenges facing HCC care in SSA are across the management spectrum and include prevention, screening and surveillance, curative-intended treatment, and palliative care the success of the endeavour will depend on addressing all aspects involving all specialities engaged in the care of these patients and stakeholders. We also are cognisant of and recognize the important roles that the medical industry, representatives from health care departments and advocacy groups will play in such an endeavour.

To this effect the Cape Town LOC in cooperation with the IHPBA Legacy Committee will table a broad proposal that can be considered by all stake-holders. The resulting output will provide a blueprint for the implementation of this HCC legacy action plan. Other ongoing IHPBA legacy projects such as the HPBridge platfrom and the expansion of the V-reach programme into Africa will also be discussed.

The IHPBA will focus on the surgical aspects of this challenge, but will also partner with other societies, associations, and organisations, for example EASL to discuss the inclusion of resource sensitivity in the Clinical Practice Guidelines on the management of HCC which will supply invaluable evidence-based guidance in this important project.

More details on these initiatives will be added as the initiative develops.