Indeed, measuring and monitoring some of the key determinants of health outcomes (e.g. risky behaviours) is fundamental to implementing the right policies. In particular, it is important to understand why some population groups have poorer health than others, and to develop and evaluate policies and interventions to prevent disease and promote health for these groups. An ideal set of indicators would provide information about the most important diseases and conditions causing poor health, disability or death as well as the various risk factors that lead to poor health.