As liver health continued to emerge as a major public health concern in India, the Bengal Liver Summit (BLS) 2026 hosted a Patient & Public Awareness and Engagement Program at Kolkata. The initiative aimed to bridge the gap between medical expertise and public understanding by translating scientific knowledge on liver diseases into clear, practical messages for patients and families. The session focused on prevention, risk-based early detection, vaccination, timely testing, and lifestyle measures to protect liver health, while addressing common myths that often delay diagnosis and treatment.
The session was held in the esteemed presence of Dr. Robert Fontana, Professor of Medicine in Gastroenterology & Hepatology at the University of Michigan Medical School, USA, Dr. Daniel Huang, Senior Consultant, National University Hospital, Singapore, Dr. Mahesh K. Goenka, Organising Chairman and Director & Head, Institute of Gastrosciences & Liver Transplant, Apollo Multispeciality Hospitals, Kolkata, Dr. Uday C. Ghoshal, Chairman, Scientific Committee and Senior Consultant Gastroenterology & Chief, Luminal Gastroenterology, Apollo Multispeciality Hospitals, Kolkata and Dr. Akash Roy, Organising Secretary and Consultant Hepatologist, Institute of Gastrosciences & Liver Transplant, Apollo Multispeciality Hospitals, Kolkata.
Bengal Liver Summit (BLS) 2026, the mid-term meeting of the Indian National Association for the Study of the Liver (INASL), brought together national and international experts to discuss advances in hepatology while placing strong emphasis on public awareness and prevention. During the public-focused session, experts highlighted that many liver diseases remain silent until they reach advanced stages, making early identification of risk and timely screening critical for better outcomes.
Faculty members discussed key drivers of liver disease today, including fatty liver disease linked to metabolic risk factors, viral hepatitis, alcohol-related liver injury, and drug or supplement-induced liver damage. The session stressed the importance of maintaining a healthy weight, controlling diabetes and cholesterol, following safe alcohol practices, and avoiding unnecessary or unverified supplements. Participants were also informed about the role of vaccination in preventing hepatitis B and the availability of effective treatments for hepatitis B and C when diagnosed early.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Mahesh K. Goenka said, “Liver disease is often silent until late. Our public awareness program focused on prevention, early detection, and actionable steps people can adopt immediately.”
Dr. Uday C. Ghoshal added, “Accurate information is a public health intervention. We prioritised expert-led communication so families could understand risks like fatty liver, viral hepatitis, and alcohol-related liver injury.”
Dr. Akash Roy said, “This was a patient-first initiative. We wanted citizens to recognise risk early, avoid harmful self-medication, and seek timely, evidence-based care.”
The organisers reiterated their commitment to linking academic excellence with real-world public health impact, ensuring that medical advances in hepatology were communicated in a way that was accessible, actionable, and relevant for the wider community. The key takeaway from the session remained clear: liver disease should not be ignored until symptoms appear, and early action based on risk can save lives.
 2026 hosted a Patient & Public Awareness and Engagement Program at Kolkata.){kind=link}