Government’s first Men’s Health Strategy highlights growing impact of liver disease

20 November 2025

The government has today published England’s first ever Men’s Health Strategy – a wide-ranging plan aimed at improving physical and mental health outcomes for men and boys and reducing long-standing inequalities.

The strategy, launched on International Men’s Day, acknowledges the significant and rising burden of liver disease among men. More than two-thirds of liver disease deaths occur in men, and rates have increased four-fold over the past 50 years. Liver disease is now the UK’s only major cause of death that is still rising, with the highest impact seen in the most deprived communities.

Alcohol-related harm is a major focus of the report, which references alcohol more than sixty times. The government pledges targeted support for high-risk groups, public awareness work to address stigma, and improved early detection of liver disease and liver cancer, including through community liver health checks.

The strategy also confirms a £200,000 pilot programme to test new interventions aimed at reducing alcohol and cocaine-related cardiovascular deaths, alongside wider investment in men’s health initiatives, suicide prevention projects and workplace health schemes.

A welcome shift for liver health

The inclusion of liver disease as a priority area is a significant and overdue development. Men are more likely to drink at higher-risk levels, less likely to seek early help, and more likely to experience preventable liver damage that goes undetected until it becomes severe.

At the Foundation for Liver Research and the Roger Williams Institute of Liver Studies, we see the consequences of late diagnosis every day. We welcome the strategy’s recognition that improving awareness, access and early identification is essential if deaths from liver disease are to fall.

Research will be critical

The strategy notes a commitment to fund research into the major conditions affecting men. As one of the country’s leading liver research centres, we recognise how vital this will be in reducing preventable deaths.

From regenerative therapies and fibrosis-reversing drugs to new approaches for liver cancer and transplant immunology, research breakthroughs are already within reach – but require sustained investment and focus.

“Men face a range of barriers in accessing healthcare services, such as stigma and services that are not responsive to men’s needs – the strategy aims to overcome these issues and stop too many cases of preventable deaths.”
– Wes Streeting, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care

“Liver disease remains one of the most urgent and most overlooked health challenges facing the UK. I’m pleased to see it recognised in this first Men’s Health Strategy, along with commitments to earlier detection and targeted support for those at highest risk. These are encouraging steps, but real progress will depend on sustained, coordinated action across government and the NHS.”
– Professor Philip Newsome, Director of the Roger Williams Institute of Liver Studies

Next steps

A stakeholder group will oversee the rollout of the strategy, with a progress report due in 12 months.

Liver disease is a major part of England’s men’s health crisis. Today’s strategy is a positive first step – and we look forward to working with partners across government, the NHS and the research community to ensure liver health remains firmly on the national agenda.
 

Read more about the strategy, at GOV.UK

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