Healthy Cities and Social Reality Indicators: Comparative Lessons From High Income And Lower Middle Income Economies (Indikator Bandar Sihat dan Realiti Sosial: Pengajaran Perbandingan daripada Negara Berpendapatan Tinggi dan Negara Berpendapatan Sederhana Rendah)

Abstract

ABSTRACT

The implementation of healthy cities varies across countries, shaped by national issues unique to each context and classified according to their respective social realities. As such, the assumption that more developed countries inherently lead in development is not always applicable since each country possesses different levels of national readiness based on social conditions. This study aims to explore the differences in the implementation of global Healthy City initiatives by analyzing national factors rooted in the social realities of each country. Understanding how these social realities shape development prospects offers valuable lessons for international development efforts, including those in Malaysia. Four countries - South Korea, Nepal, China, and South Africa, were selected to represent diverse global cases of Healthy City implementation. The selection was based on geographical location, economic status, prevailing social conditions, and different approaches to healthy city development. This study employed case studies and content analysis of selected written sources, including official documents and academic journals. Data were sourced from databases such as Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar using search terms like “healthy city policy” or “healthy city implementation in [country name].” A total of 24 documents were analyzed to extract insights and processes that reflect the broader phenomenon under investigation. The analysis identified three key national factors, shaped by each country’s social realities that influence the formulation and implementation of healthy city initiatives: (1) the vulnerability and burden on the health sector, (2) political dynamics and economic resources, and (3) population characteristics and local social issues. These findings provide a reference for the more effective implementation of healthy cities tailored to the specific needs of communities within different national contexts.

Keywords: Healthy City, social reality, selected countries, differences in implementation, development lessons

ABSTRAK

Pelaksanaan bandar sihat berbeza merentasi negara, dibentuk oleh isu nasional yang unik bagi setiap konteks serta diklasifikasikan mengikut realiti sosial masing-masing. Oleh itu, anggapan bahawa negara yang lebih maju secara semula jadi mendahului dalam pembangunan tidak semestinya terpakai kerana setiap negara mempunyai tahap ketersediaan nasional yang berbeza berdasarkan keadaan sosial. Kajian ini bertujuan meneroka perbezaan dalam pelaksanaan inisiatif Bandar Sihat global dengan menganalisis faktor nasional yang berakar daripada realiti sosial setiap negara. Memahami bagaimana realiti sosial ini membentuk prospek pembangunan menawarkan pelajaran berharga bagi usaha pembangunan antarabangsa, termasuk di Malaysia. Empat negara, iaitu Korea Selatan, Nepal, China, dan Afrika Selatan dipilih untuk mewakili kes global yang pelbagai dalam pelaksanaan Bandar Sihat. Pemilihan ini dibuat berdasarkan lokasi geografi, status ekonomi, keadaan sosial semasa, serta pendekatan berbeza terhadap pembangunan bandar sihat. Kajian ini menggunakan kaedah kajian kes dan analisis kandungan terhadap sumber bertulis terpilih, termasuk dokumen rasmi dan jurnal akademik. Data diperoleh daripada pangkalan data seperti Webof Science, Scopus, dan Google Scholar menggunakan istilah carian seperti “healthy city policy” atau “healthy city implementation in [nama negara].” Sebanyak 24 dokumen dianalisis untuk mengekstrak pandangan dan proses yang mencerminkan fenomena lebih luas yang sedang dikaji. Analisis mendapati tiga faktor nasional utama, yang dibentuk oleh realiti sosial setiap negara, yang mempengaruhi pelaksanaan inisiatif bandar sihat: (1) kerentanan dan beban terhadap sektor kesihatan, (2) dinamika politik dan sumber ekonomi, dan (3) ciri populasi serta isu sosial tempatan. Dapatan ini menyediakan rujukan bagi pelaksanaan bandar sihat yang lebih berkesan, disesuaikan dengan keperluan khusus komuniti dalam konteks nasional yang berbeza.

Kata kunci: bandar sihat, realiti sosial, negara terpilih, perbandingan, pengajaran pembangunan