Brussels, 13/05/2004 (Agence Europe) - During a press conference on Thursday in Brussels, the Health Department of the London School of Economics and the "Institut des Sciences de la Santé (ISS)" presented a study describing the great disparity existing in new and old Member States when it comes to healthcare. Although the two new Mediterranean Member States - Cyprus and Malta - share many similarities with the old Member States in terms of health, a very different picture emerges when looking at health trends in the Central and Eastern European Member States. Their life expectancy is well below that in the old Member States: 62.5 compared to 70.12 on average (expected life span in good health). The new Member States have significantly higher levels of cardiovascular disease, road traffic accidents and other injuries (including homicide and suicide) as well as some cancers (notably lung and cervical cancer). Tobacco and alcohol consumption is higher and diet contains more saturated fats and less antioxidants. Also, many problems continue to exist in terms of health care and access to medicines.