From health services economics to health economics: for debate.

Liverpool City Council and Health Authorities recently launched their City Health Plan, a five-year strategy to improve health and well-being in Liverpool, building on the foundations of the WHO Healthy Cities initiative. This strategy addresses the following key areas: housing for health, poverty and unemployment and health, health and the environment, health action for children and young people, heart disease, cancer, substance misuse, accidents, mental health and sexual health. As an intersectoral approach to improving the health of the population, the Liverpool City Health Plan furthers the city's heritage in public health established in the city by the United Kingdom's first Medical Officer of Health, William Henry Duncan (Medical Officer of Health for Liverpool 1847-1863). As health economists we have been asked to consider how health economics can contribute to this intersectoral strategy for health.