Chandigarh: Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on Friday gave away degrees to 330 students at the 31st convocation of Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) here.

Nepal President Ram Baran Yadav was the chief guest at the convocation. Azad presided over the function held at Bhargava auditorium inside PGIMER premises.

Yadav felicitated around 40 meritorious students with gold and silver medals for their outstanding research and academic excellence in different fields of medicine.

"Work is worship. They (students) have to be very disciplined in their work. They should not run after money but diagnose and treat their patients with dedication... money will automatically run after them. They have to maintain the ethics of this profession," said Yadav.

"I thank India for its invaluable contribution in Nepal in the fields of education and health. I also appreciate India's continuous contribution in the BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences," said Yadav.

Yadav, who turned 63 on Friday, did his post-graduation in internal medicine from the PGIMER in 1985.

Punjab Governor Shivraj Patil, his Haryana counterpart Jagannath Pahadia, Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and various ministers from Punjab and Haryana were present at the convocation function. IANS