Press release

What is life like in your city? See the results of the second iteration of the Healthy Cities Index!

29 listopada 2023

The LUX MED Group, in cooperation with the Warsaw School of Economics, Foundation for Economy and Public Administration and Open Eyes Economy Summit (OEES), publishes the results of the second iteration of the Healthy Cities Index presenting living conditions in 66 Polish cities with county rights. Based on the analysis, local governments are able to verify the policies implemented and their actual impact on the quality of life of city inhabitants. The winner was again Warsaw. Bielsko-Biała and Sopot were right next to it on the podium.

The key objective of the initiative is to illustrate the approach of Polish cities to issues related to the health and welfare of their inhabitants. The publication comprises a set of information on investment projects and activities implemented by local governments, thus creating a sustainable urban space. Cities were assessed in eight categories: health, population, municipal and social services, education, housing, environment, infrastructure and space.

According to the overall ranking of the latest Healthy Cities Index, Warsaw is the best city to live in, and thus maintains the last year’s leading position. It was closely followed by Bielsko-Biała (previously number 23). Sopot climbed from number nine to number three.

Supporting people to live better and healthier lives is one of the elements of the mission pursued by the LUX MED Group. Therefore, creating the Healthy Cities Index is for us a very important initiative, thanks to which we actually support local governments in verifying the practices they implement to improve the quality of life of their inhabitants, but in the first place we show people how Polish cities operate, which areas they can be proud of and which they still need to work on. Continuation of the Index initiative is a proof of our commitment to improving the condition of cities and our activities for society and the environment.

Anna Rulkiewicz, LUX MED Group President

In addition to the main ranking, a city that best meets the sector criteria was selected in each of the eight categories. The leading position in the area of care for the environment was maintained by Sopot which also became a leader in the area of housing. Education is best taken care of in Kraków, and Warsaw effectively manages health. Rzeszów was number one in such categories as population and municipal and social services. Krosno takes the best care of infrastructure while Chorzów takes the best care of space.

Open Eyes Economy emphasizes the health of inhabitants, as it is an important component for economic growth. A healthy society actively participates in the labour market, thus strengthening the position of the city in question. The relationship between health and economy is an aspect that drives us to treat public well-being as a top priority value affecting sustainable urban development. That is why it is so important that the results of the Healthy Cities Index are spread across Poland, and that local governments are able to learn about the condition of their cities.

Professor Jerzy Hausner, PhD, the chairman of the Programme Board of Open Eyes Economy Summit, Foundation for Public Economy and Administration

Warsaw which is the leader of the overall Health Cities Index may also boast second place on the podium in the education category. The average result of the secondary school leaving examination in mathematics achieved by students in Warsaw is as high as 61.7 points. It was no coincidence that the capital also gained the position of a leader in the health category, as it was in this very city that inhabitants had access to a record number of 287 preventive measures. It is also highly ranked in the population sector – the median age of a Warsaw inhabitant is 40.7 years and the number of total deaths per 100,000 people, including deaths due to cancer, is definitely below the average of the 66 cities surveyed.

Responsibility for the nowadays world rests with all people, as we are responsible for the exploitation of the planet. An adverse impact on climate change and mismanagement of resources lead to irreversible changes in the environment. This is why it is so important than measures be taken, also by the authorities and inhabitants in cities, to improve the condition of our planet and health.

Piotr Wachowiak, PhD, SGH professor, Rector of the Warsaw School of Economics

Bielsko-Biała was number two not only in the overall ranking, but also in the space category. In this city, expenses for maintaining green areas amounted to over PLN 75,000/ha.

Sopot, known to everyone as a popular holiday resort, is also a good place for everyday life. It is a leader in such categories as housing and environment. The results leave no doubt, as there are as many as 74.3 km of bicycle paths in Sopot, and the pollution load in sewage discharged into water or land by industry and sewage treatment plants amounted to zero kilograms per year. In addition, green areas account for as many as 20% of the city area.

Rzeszów did not find the way to the podium in the overall ranking, but this city may also be proud of its success as it was once again number one in such categories as population and municipal and social services. In Rzeszów, the lowest age median was recorded, at 39.8 years. Rzeszów also attracts new inhabitants. In 2022, the city recorded the highest positive balance of migration of working-age people per 1 thousand of the population. Thus, the capital of the Podkarpacie region is one of only seven cities in the overall ranking that may boast a positive result in this category. Rzeszów also sets an example in the category of municipal and social services, offering its inhabitants over 20 sports facilities per 100,000 inhabitants.

As announced earlier, this year’s Healthy Cities Index has been expanded to include the results of pilot surveys conducted among selected representatives of local authorities and inhabitants in cities with county rights. These results allowed for supplementing and enlarging the perspective of the analyses.

The Index is also to be continued in subsequent years.

The Health Cities Index Report is available at: https://www.luxmed.pl/o-nas/dzialania-spoleczne/indeks-zdrowych-miast

More about the LUX MED Group:

The LUX MED Group is a leader in the Polish private healthcare market and a member of the international Bupa group, a global provider of insurance and medical services. The Company has been present in Poland for more than 30 years. The LUX MED Group offers a full rage of outpatient, diagnostic, rehabilitation, dental, psychological, hospital, and long-term medical services for more than 2,500,000 patients. They have at their disposal over 290 public and company medical centres, 15 hospitals and approximately 3,000 partner clinics. The LUX MED Group employs over 20,000 people, including approximately 8,000 doctors and 5,000 supporting medical staff, and it is guided by the principles of sustainable development in its day-to-day activities, undertaking numerous initiatives in the areas of social involvement and the environment. The LUX MED Group is the Main Medical Partner of the Polish Olympic Committee and Main Medical Partner of the Polish Paralympic Committee.

More information at: www.luxmed.pl

More information about the Warsaw School of Economics:

The Warsaw School of Economics is an innovative university of economics, educating leaders of economic and social life. Academics from the Warsaw School of Economics explore issues of key importance for the modern world in such a way as to gain knowledge about them from which the right conclusions can be drawn and effective actions can be designed. The university is a major centre of scientific research, new ideas and initiatives created by the academic community, graduates, and representatives of business, social organizations and public administration. It carries out research and prepares expert opinions sought by companies, public institutions and local government units. Elements of this cooperation include building up the potential of the Warsaw School of Economics and joint efforts to strengthen its position as a leading university of economics and business. The Warsaw School of Economics, which is independent and socially sensitive, develops civic and ethical attitudes through its educational, research and opinion-forming activities. Its purpose is also to educate future leaders. By combining practical experience with theory, the Warsaw School of Economics encourages its business partners to show students how to properly use the acquired knowledge and skills to turn them into success. The university offers bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral and postgraduate studies and the MBA programme in English.

More information at: www.sgh.waw.pl

More information about the Foundation for Public Economy and Administration:

The Foundation for Public Economy and Administration is one of the most dynamically developing non-governmental organizations in the Małopolska region. It was established in 2005 by a group of employees of the University of Economics in Krakow. The underlying mission of the Foundation is to develop the economy of values and promote solutions relying on it in activities and public debate. This mission is implemented in particular by creating an analysis hub – the OEES HUB think tank, organizing events that create responsible development solutions, and providing development consulting services for SMEs and NGOs. The Foundation for Public Economy and Administration is the initiator and organizer of the Open Eyes Economy Summit, the 7th iteration of which will take place on 22-23 November 2022 in Kraków, as well as: the Solidarity in Development Congress in Gdańsk, the Regeneration of Cities Congress in Łódź, and the City-Water-Quality of Life Congress in Wrocław, as part of which the Foundation co-authors and publishes a ranking to assess the development of cities in Poland in terms of the efficiency of water resources management – the Water City Index.

More information at: www.fundacjagap.pl