By Dr. Ali Al-Karni

The mechanism of mass communication in the college of Medicine does not go well with mass media. Gross impediments stand against getting the information in time from a person in charge. The college has set up a media unit like one established by a developing country. The unit does it best to be the exclusive body in charge of in-the-record articles in the college and the affiliated hospitals. Were this unit effective, we would have backed it up. But, unfortunately, it delays publishing news, and functions a hindrance to the direct communication with journalists.

      There are two hospitals affiliated to the college: King Khalid Hospital and King Abdulaziz Hospital. They are important sources of information for the university newspaper and other Saudi and Arabian newspapers. The two hospitals have highly-qualified medical cadres who frequently run distinctive researches.  

      Sorry to say that the mass communication unit does not develop its work to the basics. For example, should Resalat Al-Jamiat Newspaper need to collect data about a certain topic, it takes ages to have the data because our reporters are banned to practice their job with the physicians, specialists and the faculty members in the college and the hospital. 

      Believing in the importance of the medical topics, Resalah newspaper has dedicated one full page to medicine to shed light on the medical activities on campus. Yet, we could not fill a quarter of the page with interviewing the doctors of the College of Medicine!  

      A private hospital has submitted an offer to us with more than SR. 100.000 to publish medical essays compiled by its members of staff. The offer was rejected under the pretext that we have colleges and hospitals and we are at their service.