The Ministry of Health organised the 1st International Surgical Scientific Conference, with the theme “Investing to improve surgical healthcare services that are safe and accessible to all in Timor-Leste”, which took place on October 3rd and 4th at City 8 in Dili. The event promoted knowledge-sharing between national and international health professionals from various fields and emphasised the importance of strengthening national surgical capacity. 
The Vice Minister for Hospital Operationalisation, Flávio Brandão Mendes de Araújo, took part in the opening session and stressed the need to join forces, stating that it was necessary to “join forces between senior doctors and junior doctors, and establish a healthy and collaborative environment where everyone works together to face the challenges of the health sector, promoting trust in our society”. 
During the conference, Vice Minister Flávio Araújo highlighted the country’s progress in training specialised doctors in various countries over the last twenty years. He also pointed out that “today we have Timorese surgeons specialising in various areas, such as orthopaedics, paediatrics, plastic, and general surgery.” 
Ana Maria Magno, the Clinical Director of the Guido Valadares National Hospital, the Head of the Surgery Department and various national and international health professionals attended the event.