Debrecen4U
February 23, 2026
The Caring City in 2026
The draft budget of Debrecen for 2026 has been completed and social care policy details were presented to the press by Deputy Mayor Diána Széles on 19 February 2026.
As the Deputy Mayor highlighted, thanks to the economic development activity of the Municipality of Debrecen over the past ten years and the resulting local tax revenues, the city has sufficient resources to implement welfare programmes that may not be feasible in other municipalities. Within the scope of the Caring City concept, the institutional budgets of the Social Service of the City of Debrecen, the Family and Child Welfare Centre of the City of Debrecen, as well as nurseries and kindergartens, will amount to more than HUF 18 billion in total in 2026. Diána Széles considered it important to emphasise that the 2026 draft budget includes a 15% supplementary wage allowance for the staff of the Social Service of the City of Debrecen and the Family and Child Welfare Centre of the City of Debrecen.
The Caring City programme accompanies citizens from birth to old age. It includes mandatory municipal tasks – such as the provision of primary healthcare – as well as voluntarily undertaken elements financed at the municipality’s own discretion, such as the exercise programmes and health screening schemes of the “Move, Debrecen!” initiative. These are, of course, only examples, as many similar elements also exist. Among them, Diána Széles highlighted the operation of the Breast Milk Collection Station and the municipal support provided to mothers donating breast milk, which amounts to more than HUF 10 million annually in total. This is also rare at national level, as very few such stations operate in Hungary. She also emphasised the so-called TSMT developmental gymnastics sessions provided free of charge by the municipality for children whose level of physical activity falls short of what is appropriate for their age. To date, 600 children and their families have been supported by the city through this programme. Diána Széles also referred to the regular school health screening programme affecting a total of 39,000 children in the city. This is partly state-funded; however, within its framework the Municipality of Debrecen also voluntarily finances certain screenings. These include ECG screening, which is considered unique worldwide among school-age children. Since 2019, a total of 20 children at risk of sudden cardiac death (WPW syndrome) have been identified in time thanks to this examination. Since their diagnosis, these children have received regular cardiological supervision in order to safeguard their health. Based on the experience of the school health screenings, the school programme of the “Move, Debrecen!” initiative was also launched, under which more than 1,200 non-certified young athletes in 41 schools in Debrecen currently take part in regular extracurricular physical exercise sessions several times a week. And these children are happy to be able to exercise. Increased attention to children’s health has also led to the launch of the school-based mental support programme entitled “The Power of a Hug”, which develops emotional intelligence and promotes mental wellbeing. According to Diána Széles, the peaks of the Caring City programme are the school health screenings, the school programme of the “Move, Debrecen!” initiative, and “The Power of a Hug” programme. Also serving children’s health, within the framework of the “Move, Debrecen!” initiative, is the “Plate Adventure” project, which provides guidance on healthy eating and a healthy lifestyle.
As a mandatory municipal task, Diána Széles mentioned holiday childcare. However, thanks to the municipality’s voluntary financial commitment – similarly to the initiatives mentioned above – this service is of a different quality compared to that in other municipalities. In Debrecen, summer childcare over several weeks resembles a summer camp, offering numerous experience-based programmes.
With regard to the elements of the Caring City programme affecting people of working age, the Deputy Mayor returned to the “Move, Debrecen!” initiative, which now has 21 indoor exercise venues across the city – in every district – offering forms of physical activity tailored to the needs of local residents, with great success and fully booked sessions. Diána Széles also expressed her thanks to the institutions providing the venues for their support. According to the Deputy Mayor, such programmes can operate in Debrecen because the city’s citizens are characterised by cooperation and a willingness to work together towards common goals.
Within the framework of the “Move, Debrecen!” initiative, free health screening examinations for adults are also important. These are available at the Health Development Centre at 11 Szent Anna Street, where services can also be accessed after working hours. In 2025, more than 5,000 people attended these screenings and the related personalised lifestyle counselling sessions.
According to Diána Széles, if the citizens of Debrecen feel that a programme is there for them, serves them and responds to their problems, then these programmes can function well. The “Move, Debrecen!” initiative is such a programme.
Following people of working age, the Deputy Mayor highlighted services intended for older residents within the Caring City programme. The municipality operates numerous clubs for them, they can find a wide range of programmes in community centres, and the “Move, Debrecen!” initiative also offers thematic walks and cheerful senior dance sessions specifically for them. Debrecen is among the national leaders in terms of the popularity of senior dance: several hundred people regularly participate at the Ibolya Street, Csapókert, Homokkert and Epreskert venues of the “Move, Debrecen!” initiative.
As another example of caring for older people, the Deputy Mayor mentioned the support provided towards the public waste management service fee for residents aged 70 and over, which, at nearly HUF 150 million, represents a significant item in the city’s budget. Those over 65 may, on specified occasions, use the thermal baths of Aquaticum or the Kerekestelep Beach free of charge – the allocated budget for this also exceeds HUF 60 million. She encouraged older residents to make use of these opportunities.
In addition to the above, the city provides numerous other forms of social support for older residents, primarily for those in more difficult life situations. In this context, Diána Széles also mentioned that those who, for some reason, do not meet the conditions for social assistance are not left without help either. The Debrecen Charitable Board may provide them with support tailored to their current circumstances.
The Deputy Mayor also spoke about planned developments in the social sector. Within the framework of the TOP+ programme, these include, for example, the development of the nursery and kindergarten on Áchim András Street, the development of the GP surgery on Kincseshegy Street, the infrastructural development of the Social Service premises on Csapó Street, the comprehensive refurbishment of the GP surgery at 54 Monostorpályi Road, the comprehensive refurbishment of the GP surgery at 34 Pandúr Street, the comprehensive refurbishment of the GP surgery at 1 Angyalföld Square, the comprehensive refurbishment of the GP surgery in Haláp, and the development of the GP surgery on Földi János Street. In connection with these investments, design work is expected to take place this year. Diána Széles also listed developments to be implemented from municipal own resources: building refurbishment at 1/B Pósa Street, accessibility improvements to GP surgeries, completion of the establishment of the GP surgery in Nagymacs, and completion of the nearly HUF 180 million development of the Home for the Elderly on Pallagi Road.
Csaba Papp, Chairman of the Health and Social Committee of the Debrecen City Assembly, also attended the press conference. He stated that he is proud that healthcare and social services in Debrecen operate according to a well-considered, planned and comprehensive process. Debrecen is thus truly a caring city. He also emphasised the importance within the school health screening system of identifying children at risk of sudden cardiac death (WPW syndrome) and facilitating their further treatment. Thanks to school health examinations, another child with a very rare heart condition has already been identified in Debrecen; this child is the second known case in the country with this disease. These are exceptional examples, but Csaba Papp also noted that among the 19,000 children screened annually, more than 600 are found each year to have minor or major health problems, and 57% of children suffer from some form of musculoskeletal disorder. It is possible that these issues would not otherwise come to light, so it is highly beneficial that the city provides funding for these examinations.
Naturally, appropriate premises must also be provided for the examinations, and part of the building complex at 1 Pósa Street has been made suitable for this purpose. Expansion has now become necessary, through the use of additional units of the complex. In a model unique in Hungary, the municipally maintained school dental and orthodontic service operates in 28 school dental districts, with 8,000–9,000 children participating annually – and orthodontic treatment is also provided almost entirely free of charge. Within the framework of a joint project of the Municipality of Debrecen and the University of Debrecen, the orthodontic clinic will in future relocate from Bethlen Street to a unit of the building at 1/B Pósa Street, which is still to be refurbished, and two school dental surgeries will also be established there. At the same location, a new gymnasium will be created for the “Move, Debrecen!” initiative, which over its nearly five-year history has engaged more than 280,000 people.
Source and photo credit: debrecen.hu
