IBD barriers across the continents - East Asia.

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are chronic illnesses with significant morbidities and impact on patients' quality of life. There has been a rapid increase in the incidence of IBD in East Asia in recent decades. However, there is a huge unmet need in the diagnosis and management of IBD in this region. With the increasing awareness of IBD in East Asia and a persistently high rate of tuberculosis in this region, this poses a significant challenge in the diagnosis and management of IBD. In this review, we will explore the barriers to the diagnosis and management of IBD in the East Asia, hoping to provide an insight on how to improve the healthcare system in the management of this complex disease.

HCV elimination in Hong Kong - Non-government organisation (NGO) activities.

World Health Organization (WHO) calls for global hepatitis strategy to eliminate viral hepatitis by 2030. Yet many high-income countries were unable to achieve HCV elimination by 2030. Apart from the tremendous efforts and resources from the governments, many non-government organizations (NGOs) have been working very hard to contribute to HCV elimination. In Hong Kong, the Center for Liver Health of The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) has been working very closely with various NGOs to educate and screen subjects who previously use intravenous drugs. In this review article, we discussed in details the New Life New Liver Program, and the barriers to HCV elimination, with special highlight the role of NGOs in overcoming the barriers.