Mexico Experts Urge Integration of Liver Disease Into Chronic Care Programs

Experts in Mexico are urging the government to integrate liver disease care into existing chronic disease management programs, citing alarming statistics and a growing public health crisis. Meanwhile, in Uganda, health professionals are advocating for expanded access to physiotherapy to combat rising rates of chronic illnesses linked to sedentary lifestyles. Both efforts underscore the global challenge of addressing noncommunicable diseases through holistic, patient-centered approaches.

Mexico’s Liver Disease Crisis and the Call for Integrated Care

Liver disease is the fifth leading cause of death in Mexico, with over 19,000 fatalities recorded in the first half of 2025 alone. A review published in Archives of Medical Research (DOI: 10.1016/j.arcmed.2026.103476) reveals that 47% of participants in a multicenter screening study across five states met criteria for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). This condition occurs when fat builds up in the liver alongside cardiometabolic risk factors such as obesity and type 2 diabetes, which affect an estimated 39% and 16.4% of Mexican adults, respectively.

Researchers, including Jeffrey Lazarus, professor at the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy (CUNY SPH), argue that treating liver disease in isolation from other chronic conditions like diabetes and obesity is inefficient and ineffective. The paper, released to coincide with the International Congress on Obesity in Mexico City, notes that MASLD was the leading cause of cirrhosis at Mexican referral centers, accounting for 42.8% of cases between 2018 and 2024.

“Treating these diseases separately misses a major opportunity to define and implement a much more cohesive and effective public health response that improves prevention, early diagnosis, and equitable care,” Lazarus said. About one in five people with MASLD develop MASH, a progressive inflammatory form that can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer.

The review recommends integrating simple blood-based liver screening into diabetes and obesity care, expanding public-sector access to non-invasive diagnostics, and building liver measures into ENSANUT, Mexico’s national health and nutrition survey, which collects underlying data but does not currently assess liver risk.

The urgency is heightened by the recent arrival of the first treatment for MASH on the market. Researchers emphasize that early detection is critical to leveraging this new therapy, as screening is more effective when a diagnosis can lead directly to care.

Uganda’s Physiotherapy Advocacy in Chronic Disease Management

In Uganda, health practitioners are pushing for the wider integration of physiotherapy into mainstream healthcare as chronic diseases like Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, stroke, kidney and liver disease, and chronic back pain become more prevalent. These conditions are linked to increasingly sedentary lifestyles and place pressure on a health system that often focuses on symptom management rather than long-term functional recovery.

Julius Habumugisha of Teamwork Physiotherapy Centre International highlights that physiotherapy remains an underutilised but essential component of patient recovery. “Physiotherapy helps patients regain mobility, reduce pain, and return to everyday activities such as walking, bathing, and self-care,” Habumugisha said, adding that it should be considered a core part of treatment rather than supportive care.

Physiotherapy is relevant across all age groups, including children with developmental challenges, adults recovering from injury or surgery, and elderly patients managing degenerative conditions. The treatment combines exercise therapy, manual techniques, and rehabilitation programmes designed to restore strength, coordination, and endurance, playing a particularly important role in neurological, orthopaedic, and cardiopulmonary recovery.

Experts note that the demand for specialised rehabilitation services, such as sports physiotherapy, postnatal care, paediatric therapy, and geriatric rehabilitation, is rising due to lifestyle changes and an ageing population. Many facilities are expanding services to include occupational therapy, speech therapy, and therapeutic massage to improve recovery outcomes and quality of life.

Global Lessons: Integrated Care and Patient-Centered Solutions

The efforts in Mexico and Uganda reflect a broader shift toward integrated, patient-centered care for chronic diseases. In Mexico, the focus is on redefining liver disease as part of a larger metabolic health framework, while Uganda’s push for physiotherapy highlights the importance of rehabilitation in managing long-term conditions.

Both approaches emphasize the need for policy changes and increased funding. In Mexico, researchers stress the importance of updating national health surveys to include liver risk factors. In Uganda, experts warn that without greater investment in rehabilitation services, many patients risk long-term disability and reduced independence even after surviving acute illness or surgery. They are urging policymakers and health providers to prioritise physiotherapy as part of routine healthcare delivery to reduce long-term treatment costs.

Readers should consult qualified healthcare professionals for medical advice regarding liver health or rehabilitation services.

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