The Medical Education and Research Minister Punjab Mr. OP Soni today reviewed all the preparedness being made by medical colleges and hospitals to deal with COVID 19 through the video conferencing.Principal Secretary Medical Education Mr. DK Tiwari, Director Dr. Avneesh Kumar, Joint Director Dr. Akashdeep Aggarwal, Vice Chancellor of Baba Farid health sciences University Dr. Raj Bahadur and Principals & medical superintendents of medical colleges and hospitals were attending the meeting.It was discussed in the meeting that medical education and research department is doing all emergency work related to COVID-19 cases. The Minister said that to fulfill the requirements, demands would be send to the Finance Department to increase the budget provision. He said that the capacity of hospitals to run ventilators will also be increased to double of existing volume. He instructed the Principals and Medical Superintendents to make plans and arrangements for the same. He said that there is also need to enhance technical manpower so that consolidated demands of manpower, funds, machinery and equipment to be forwarded after considering the all fronts.The Minister further directed the all concerned authorities to make the proper arrangement of nutritious food for the patients following the guidelines regarding hygiene and sanitation. He added that all the Counsellors would constantly intimate the patients and their relatives to boost the morale during the difficult time of treatment. They should also inform the patients about the details of treatment being given to them and be available for full 8-hour duration in the ward. Counsellor should also ensure to talk at least one relative of the patient to make them aware about the patient health status. The Cabinet Minister said that checklist of services which are available in isolation wards would be provided to the affected patients and their family members. It should be followed by all the hospitals while any deficiency would promptly rectify. He said that estimates of emergency services which would be required for COVID cases like ventilators, tubes, circuits and monitors etc. to be send as earliest. He appealed the all concerned to make aggressive efforts to ensure the facilities in hospitals.Louding the initiative taken by the medical Education department, Mr. Soni said that all the doctors and staff involved in this task has been working on war footing to win over this health crisis.