Dear Friends and Colleagues,

On behalf of the Royal College of Surgeons of Thailand (RCST), it is my pleasure and privilege to invite you to participate and share on the 43^rd Annual Scientific Congress of the Royal College of Surgeons of Thailand combined with the 3^rd Joint Meeting with the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and the 2^nd Joint Meeting with the Ministry of Public Health which will be held between 27 and 30 July 2018 in Pattaya, Thailand.

This year our Joint Congress will address the theme of "Quality Improvement in Surgery towards Thailand 4.0" which introduces another dimension of collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health, Thailand. There will also be an opportunity to explore various aspects of the service plan which involves quality improvement in surgical care and training.

The organising committee has together put their best efforts to deliver this very comprehensive scientific programme which features various challenging and informative forum, workshops and presentations. Many international renowned speakers around the world are invited to share and exchange their knowledge of their most recent studies and advancements in surgical areas. In addition, with the kind contribution of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, we hope to extend a wider network of participants interested in the UK surgical care systems as well.

Lastly, I would like to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to all honorary speakers, distinguished guests, participants, delegates and supporters. All of you are not just an integral part of this event but also make our Congress very wonderful success. I am highly confident that you will have a memorable experience in our Congress and enjoy your stay in Pattaya.

Warmest welcome to the Congress! I am looking forward to seeing you soon.

Prof. Tanaphon Maipang, MD, FRCST
President
The Royal College of Surgeons of Thailand

Dear Colleagues

It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the 43^rd Annual Scientific Congress of the Royal College of Surgeons of Thailand which, this year, is being held jointly with the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh here in Pattaya. This year's theme, 'Quality Improvement in Surgery towards Thailand 4.0' is extremely apposite focussing us all on delivering the absolute best for our patients, wherever we might practise.

This conference draws experience together not only from Thailand but from the wider international surgical community as well and the conference organiser, Professor Pramook Mutiragura, and his organising committee are to be commended on drawing together such a distinguished faculty. Their combined expertise and the innovative programme covers all that is relevant to quality improvement in surgery and keeps it in context of what is achievable. I am sure that we will all benefit from the shared debate and I wish you all a most successful and enjoyable conference.

Professor Michael Lavelle-Jones
President
The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh

Dear Colleagues and Friends

It is our great pleasure to welcome you to the 43^rd Annual Congress of the Royal College of Surgeons of Thailand together with the 3 J^rdoint Meeting with the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and the 2^nd Joint Meeting with the Ministry of Public Health in Pattaya, Jomtien during 27-30 July 2018.

The theme of this congress is entitled "Quality Improvement in Surgery towards Thailand 4.0".

To date, surgical service has a major role in the public health care system of Thailand with the high expectation of treatment outcome from the social communities. However, it is substantially demanding to expand the treatment modalities for surgical patients through the whole country with the same standard. Also, the requirements of the effective treatment with minimally invasive modalities for the complicated disease with high risk comorbidities are more requested from surgical patients. Therefore, the development of quality improvement with the adequate quantity is currently challenging in the surgical service plan of the public health care policy.

In this meeting, we strongly intend to provide the extensive communication among surgeons from all specialities to create the ideas, to contribute the knowledge and to share the experience in order to make the quality improvement of surgical care for our patients and to achieve the adequate standard quantity of surgical care in the country by the appropriate surgical training programme.

We are pleased to have your suggestions and participations for the most productive activities of this congress. Our communication will be effective through the RCST website www.rcst.or.th.

We are looking forward to welcoming you to this congress.

Pramook Mutirangura, MD, FRCST, FRCSEd
Chairman of the Organising Committee
The 43^rd Annual Scientific Congress
The Royal College of Surgeons of Thailand