Union Health Minister Mr. Ghulam Nabi Azad today said that an ambitious scheme costing 1350 crores is being implemented soon to strengthen the fabric of medical education in the country. Addressing the 31st convocation at the premises of PGI Chandigarh, Mr. Azad said that in the medical colleges run by the central government 4000 seats are being added and besides 269 new nursing colleges are being opened to consolidate the paramedical infrastructure.He said that the government is making all out efforts to eradicate communicable diseases. Expressing concern at WHO report prophesying that India will become hub of cancer by 2020, he said that a pilot project to combat cancer is being launched in the hundred districts of the country. He said that under this project each of these districts will be given funds for early detection of cancer and one lakh rupees will be given per patient for chemotherapy treatment. He also promised a career promotion scheme for the PGI faculty under which an assistant professor will become professor in 10 years. Earlier he gave away post graduate degrees to the students in various disciplines. Apart from honouring 330 distinctive candidates, he awarded gold to six candidates, silver to 20 and bronze medals to 11 candidates for distinction.On this occasion, the first president of Republic of Nepal and former alumnus of PGI , Dr Rambaran Yadav said that he is having a feeling of home coming. He said that the alumni of this centre of medical excellence are serving country well. He also thanked Indian Government for its support to PP KOIRALA INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL SCIENCES in Nepal.