The Central Hospital for Cooperation in the Treatment of Liver Patients

Since in principle, each prefecture is to have one central hospital for cooperation in the treatment of liver patients, evaluating cutting edge medicine and diagnosis and care of incurable diseases in the field of liver disease, on the basis of being a medical facility with the highest level of professionalism in treatment, clinical research, and dissemination of information, with the establishment of a Clinical Research Center as a concrete expression of our commitment to strengthening research, National Hospital Nagasaki Medical Center was selected as the central hospital for cooperation in the treatment of liver patients by the Nagasaki Prefecture Hepatitis Strategy Council.

National Hospital Nagasaki Medical Center was the first in the nation to be so designated as a central hospital for cooperation in the treatment of liver patients.

Selection Date: 2007 August 1

Nagasaki Prefecture Health and Welfare Department Medical Policy Section Infectious Disease Strategy Group

A central hospital for cooperation in the treatment of liver patients has:

• treatment by doctors with specialized knowledge (in level of activity and period of disease), with settled treatment guidelines
• treatment using such antiviral agents as interferon
• the ability, in relation to liver cancer, to deal both with the highly dangerous group and those diagnosed early in the course of the disease, being a facility able to treat all forms of liver cancer, having the ability to handle all diver disease patients, the majority of whom will have hepatitis, and functioning as a central node in a liver treatment network covering all the prefectures of Japan.

1. Provide general medical information regarding treatment of liver patients.
2. Gather information about liver patients from medical facilities in the prefecture as well as provide referral services.
3. Hold training meetings and lectures for medical personnel and area residents, as well as provide consultation support regarding liver patients.
4. Establish a location for conferences with specialized medical facilities dealing with liver patients.