The WHO European Healthy Cities programme in Hungary

Abstract

The European Healthy Cities programme was initiated by the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Europe in 1987 with the aim of involving sectors outside the health care system such as local government and communities in health development. Hungary has been an active member of the WHO European Healthy Cities Network since its beginning. The name of the Hungarian National Network of healthy cities isHungarian Speaking Association of Healthy Cities. The Association has 20 member cities, of which 4 cities are Hungarian speaking cities from the Carpathian Basin.Among them, 3 cities participate in the European programme as project cities: Győr, Pécs and Székesfehérvár.The goal of the Hungarian National Network is to create and operate a health development cooperation covering the Carpathian Basin which contributes to the improvement of the citizens’ health and well-being with the application of the principles and methods of the WHO Healthy Cities programme.