When MEP Nikos Papandreou (S&D, Greece) co-hosted “From Risk to Action: Preventing Liver Health Crises” at the European Parliament in December 2025, the goal was clear: to push liver health into the heart of EU public health policy — it was not just symbolic — it sparked action. Just one week later, over 200 people were tested for liver disease in Piraeus, Greece, thanks to a collaboration with the European Liver Patients’ Association (ELPA) and the volunteer doctors from the Piraeus Medical Association.
“That moment in Brussels was a wake‑up call,” Papandreou said. “We were standing together with lawmakers, but the people who need prevention most were not there. I wanted to show that what we do in Brussels must reach citizens where they live.”
“This is the power of patient-led outreach,” said ELPA President Marko Korenjak. “It turns political commitment into practical action for people the health system often misses.”
From EU debate to neighbourhood health care
Piraeus, one of Greece’s largest cities, is a tight-knit community with strong local institutions.
“We chose Piraeus because it is a working city with a strong local identity,” Papandreou explained. “The Doctors’ Association is active and trusted. They helped us reach people who might never walk into a hospital for a test.”
More than 200 people were tested in the first two days using non-invasive elastography to measure fat accumulation and liver stiffness. For many, this was their first liver check
“Access to medical tests should never depend on income, education, or whether you can take a day off work,” Papandreou added. “That is what European health equity must mean in practice.”
Reaching the people most at risk
More than 200 people were tested in the first two days using non-invasive elastography to measure fat accumulation and liver stiffness. For many, this was their first liver check.
Results revealed a hidden burden of liver disease: 19% of participants showed results consistent with fatty liver disease, 56% had moderate fat accumulation, and 44% showed no or minimal fat. In addition, 27% had elevated liver stiffness values, indicating possible liver fibrosis.
“These findings reinforce ELPA’s call to integrate liver screening into routine prevention,” Korenjak said. “Metabolic liver disease is often silent, closely linked to diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular risk, yet rarely included in NCD screening.”
The response was so strong that a nearby municipality, Perama — one of the most deprived areas in Attica — requested the screening in its community.
From a discussion in the Parliament to real screening in underserved communities, the message was clear: public health must move beyond institutions and into people’s lives
“When Perama asked us to come, we didn’t hesitate,” Papandreou said. “This is exactly where prevention matters most — among people who cannot afford private tests and who are often diagnosed too late.”
A model for Europe
From a discussion in the Parliament to real screening in underserved communities, the message was clear: public health must move beyond institutions and into people’s lives.
“We talk a lot about prevention, cancer plans, and health strategies in Parliament. But policy only has meaning when it becomes care — when a citizen gets a test, a diagnosis, or peace of mind.”
“This is the Europe I believe in,” Papandreou concluded, “one that doesn’t wait for patients to come to it — but goes out to meet them.”
For ELPA, the Piraeus Medical Association and MEP Papandreou, the partnership demonstrated how patient organisations, doctors, and policymakers can close the gap between policy and practice.
Sign up to The Parliament's weekly newsletter
Every Friday our editorial team goes behind the headlines to offer insight and analysis on the key stories driving the EU agenda. Subscribe for free here.