Definition of healthy city by WHO
- A function of healthy city is to improve and create a physical and social environment sustainably, help demonstrate individual ability of community members by increasing resources of the local community by developing potential ability of them to the maximum so that mutual cooperation would be provided. (WHO, 1988)
- Healthy city is a process, not an outcome.
- Healthy city is not signifying the fact that a certain specific healthy condition is reached.
- Any city can be a "healthy" city, regardless of its current level of healthy condition.
- Healthy city is made to be developed not by a separate plan from the health-related works so far followed, but rather an integrated plan aiming at health with focusing on existing plan related with health directly or indirectly or urban development plan
- The most important aspect of healthy city is a total devotion to health and its process/organization for achieving its objective. Meaning of healthy city in a broad sense can be found in that the total city has agreed to put its best goal on health and an organization and strategy for achieving this objective in detail are developed and a systematic project is implemented in this city. Therefore, any city can be a healthy city but the city where healthy city steering committee or project office is organized and smooth partnership among each fields is realized while a political determination and leadership are demonstrated in order to establish a healthy public policy based on local community and to create a health-oriented environment, may be called as a healthy city in a real sense.
