© City of BudapestBudapest’s Screening Bus program brings free health screenings directly to residents to improve life expectancy.
ADDRESSING LOWER LIFE EXPECTANCY IN HUNGARY
An OECD report shows life expectancy at birth in Hungary is 4.6 years lower than the EU average. In response, Budapest has committed to increasing life expectancy of its residents by five years. Therefore, it has improved access to healthcare screenings.
MOBILE HEALTHCARE SCREENING INITIATIVE
In collaboration with its institutions and the healthcare provider V&H Medical, the Municipality launched a screening bus program in the summer of 2024. Between 2 May and 16 June, a total of 24 free screening sessions were organised at 23 locations across the city. The buses were stationed at busy intersections, district centres, and residential areas, where approximately 7,000 people underwent around 40,000 screenings.
SCREENING SERVICES AND FUTURE PLANS
Specialists performed tests, including ultrasounds, lung screenings, lab tests, melanoma checks, eye and hearing examinations, EKGs, pulmonary function tests, ankle-brachial index tests, and dementia screenings. Besides rheumatology screenings, Budapest Spas cPlc. offered medical consultations. The Methodological Centre of Social Policy and its Institutions provided health screenings for homeless individuals. The International Red Cross conducted blood pressure, blood oxygen, blood sugar, and cholesterol tests. The equipment was transported using a uniquely designed bus provided by Budapest Transport Ltd. Budapest plans to continue the screening bus program in 2025, maintaining a similar scale to that of 2024.
