By contrast, it is increasing, sometimes at an alarming rate, in the countries of Eastern Europe and in several emerging nations in Asia. The Task Force is funded by donations and legacies, by profits arising from the sale of scientific documents, and by the registration fees of its seminars and symposia. All office holders of the Task Force are unpaid. The Task Force is composed of experts of 13 different nationalities who are holders or have recently retired from senior academic posts. All have extensive research experience in relevant medical specialties.
Many members provide cross-representation with other international bodies and cardiology societies.
Members of these two organizations must always form a majority of the board. Fifteen voting members who are experts in the field of coronary heart disease prevention and who are recruited by cooption. In the coming years, the Task Force aims to considerably increase its educational activities in emerging countries such as those of S.E. Asia, India and China, and hopes in this way to help avert the epidemic in coronary heart disease already witnessed in Western countries in the last 50 years. In the past year, regional subcommittees have been established to this end in Turkey, the Middle East, China, Russia and Japan. Further committees are planned in India, Indonesia.