Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Pakistan: National Trends and Global Perspective

Table 1

Guidelines for HCC management in Pakistan.

Issues	Potential solutions
Incidence and prevalence of hepatitis C and hepatitis B are unknown	Implementation of national screening program
Lack of awareness regarding risk factors; Low screening rate; High prevalence of diabetes and obesity	Public education via audiovisual dissemination regarding risk factor prevention, maintenance of healthy life style, and exercise
Insufficient HPB/liver transplant, palliative care, and cancer centers; Enormous demand and supply gap	Development of infrastructure with collaboration of public and private sector
Shortage of technical skills	Acquire technical skills via international exposure and collaboration
Controversial aspects of HCC management; Knowledge gap	Collective decision making; Online tumor boards; Personalized care for individual patients
Low remission rates for hepatitis C	Access to new treatments at affordable price
Physician shortage	Train future caregivers; Incentivization
Scattered cancer registries; True cancer incidence and prevalence unknown	National cancer registry