New Delhi, Nov.16 President Pratibha Patil on Monday appealed to young doctors to devote some time in rural parts of the country.

Addressing the 37th annual convocation of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in the national capital, President Patil said in view of severe shortage of doctors in rural India, young doctors should respond to the government's call on rural postings.

"I urge young doctors of the country to devote some years of their professional lives to working in rural areas by responding positively to the call of the Government to take up rural postings," said Pratibha Devisingh Patil.

President Patil said that the Ministry of Health and Family welfare was setting up more medical colleges to overcome acute shortage of doctors and medical personnel.

"The doctor to patient ratio is about 1:1500, while the recommended ratio is 1: 250. Aware of this situation, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is making efforts to bring in path breaking changes to overcome the acute shortage of doctors, nurses and medical personnel in the health sector. Some of these measures include facilitation for setting-up of more medical colleges that will include AIIMS-like institutions, paramedical training institutes and increasing the number of specialists," the President said.

There are millions of people living in Indian villages, who have very little access to quality medical care. To bridge this gap the government launched National Rural Health Mission to provide quality healthcare in the remotest corners of the country. (ANI)