The WHO project Healthy City in has been continually realised Poreč since the early 90’s. This project gave Poreč its status as a Healthy City, as a community that cares for the improvement of health of all its citizens, for social cohesion and unity, and for the vulnerable groups of citizens. Besides that, the project enabled Poreč to keep developing exemplary local standards for health and social security, to become a community which stands out for its high level of readiness in investing in and securing human resources. All those qualities are what makes Poreč different than other Croatian cities.
The City of Poreč-Parenzo chose, from the very initiation of the local Healthy City project in 1993. As a non-profit, City-founded organisation, a specific, highly effective development route. From the beginning, its main goal has been local (physical, environmental, mental) health care and the implementation on academic knowledge and local interventions for health into the life of the community.
On April 1st 2017, the once non-profit City-developed organisation, changed its legal structure due to a change in Croatia’s legal regulations. Thus, Healthy City of Poreč became a non-profit social care institution called Centre for Provision of Services of the the community of Healthy City of Poreč-Parenzo, know also by its Italian title of Centro per la fornitura di servizi all comunita Citta sana Poreč-Parenzo. The institution continues the work of its predecessor, Healthy City of Poreč foundation, its main objectives being psychological support and mental health improvement. Beyond that, it’s also focused on strategic planning for health in the community and its progression in the broadest sense realised by introducing local superior standards based on surrounding priorities.
The institution devised both short-term and long-term plans for the health of City of Poreč-Parenzo. Plans and strategic deliberations are applied to everyday life by employees and expert teams by creating health protective programs for all citizens.
The exceptional standard levels are what differentiates Poreč from all other cities in Croatia.