New Delhi: Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on Wednesday urged medical graduates not to leave the country after their education as there is a shortage of doctors in India.

"Please don't fly abroad," Azad told young doctors at the 94th Annual Day and Convocation of the Lady Hardinge Medical College.

He said there is just one doctor for a population of 1,722 patients in the country. Hundreds of doctors go abroad either for higher studies or for better jobs every year.

Nearly 200 medical students - both graduates and post graduates - passed out of the Lady Hardinge Medical College here on Wednesday.

Of the total number, at least 130 are graduates and the rest are postgraduate and diploma students in different streams of medicine.

The minister also asked the institute to gear up for super-specialty training in the near future.

"Lady Hardinge Medical College should be ready for super-specialty training. The work for this must be speedier," Azad said.

The minister also detailed a Rs.387 crore re-development plan for the institution.

Through this plan, the number of under graduate seats would be increased from 127 to 200 and post graduate from 70 to 130.

It would be done in the next two years time, Azad added. IANS