The 22nd European Week of Regions and Cities included a session on 'The true cost of unhealthy urban environments: how healthy cities can save money', which dealt with the topic of living in cities and the impact on health.
Healthy Cities, based in Barcelona (Spain), is a company that focuses on urban planning in regards to people's health and well-being. According to Marta Rofin, CEO of Healthy Cities, "there is a relationship between urban planning and health. We see health as a tool for urban planning and the city as a tool for health."
She said that Healthy Cities strives to put the well-being and health of individuals at the heart of urban policies, strategies and projects which is why they work together with several regional and local governments, private entities, research leaders and civil societies.
The company has developed an online tool for healthy urban planning called The Healthy Cities Generator. The tool is available free of charge, based on scientific evidence and endorsed by international experts. The tool allows different users to define priority urban interventions to meet health goals, identify their plan's strengths and weaknesses in terms of health and understand how much their urban plan could save on health each year.
“The tool shows a list of results, not only the impact on health but also how much money per person your urban plan can save on health care each year," Rofin said. "Of course, if we improve our environment, that means we have the potential and the power to reduce certain diseases (such as asthma, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, depression etc.) and that means we can save money on health care every year," she said.
Healthy Cities gave an example of the city of Bradford (Northern England), where the focus is on public transport, bike lanes and neighborhoods with housing, shops and public green spaces. According to the Healthy Cities, the aim of this plan was to create lively and welcoming spaces that meet the needs of the local population.
The new version of the Healthy Cities Generator will be launched on the 24th of October.
For more information, visit www.healthy-cities.com
