"Progress in the health sector is key to India's future prominence in the world, said President Pranab Mukherjee at the 33rd convocation of the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh. While speaking at the convocation as the chief guest, the President said that a nation's productivity depends on the health and well-being of its citizens. Economic growth does not go hand-in-hand with reduction in avoidable mortality and ill-health is neither sustainable nor desirable.

While praising the faculty staff and students of PGIMER, he said, "PGI must rise to be one of the top medical universities in the world within a specific period of time."

"This target is ambitious," he said, "but I am confident the faculty, the students and the staff can together achieve this. We must develop world-class centers of excellence focused not only on traditional specialties but also on cross-cutting themes such as infectious diseases, vaccine development and regenerative sciences."

"I call upon the faculty and scholars of PGI to step forward and become leaders in the world of medicine. The government will support you in this endeavour in every possible way," he said.

He added that we must develop world class centers of excellence focused not only on traditional specialties but also on cross-cutting themes such as infectious diseases, vaccine development and regenerative sciences.