03/02/2006 (Agence Europe) - At an event organised at the European Parliament on 2 February and attended by former Commissioner David Byrne, Health First Europe presented a book “2050 - A Health Odyssey”. Containing articles from health professionals, political personalities, patient representatives and industry, the book emphasises the numerous reforms needed in Europe's health sector due as much to the increase in life expectancy (average life expectancy should be 80.5 years by 2050) as to medical progress. Each author explores what he/she considers a priority measure in this perspective. Austrian Health Minister Maria Rauch-Kallat talks about Type 2 diabetes, while Peggy Maguire, of the European Institute of Women's Health, considers breast cancer, which affects one woman in twelve in Europe. (http://www.healthfirsteurope.org )