Open source software for health investigated

Open source software is creeping into health systems around the world, but is yet to seriously challenge incumbent proprietary software, according to experts.

Otago University health informatics lecturer Muzaffar Malik says core open source medical software, such as clinical information system OpenVista, is being used in several countries.

Open source medical software has the greatest potential for use in developing countries as it is cheap and generally of an international standard, he says. Phil Brimacombe, chief information officer at Counties Manukau and Waitemata district health boards, says he is not aware of any core open source medical systems being used in New Zealand.

Medical software requires "highly complex, strong functionality" and is designed for a very specific context, he says. "The other issue is it requires so many interfaces to so many other linked systems, such as pharmacy and laboratory systems. There's such a specialist and broad set of functionality required that for an open source developer it wouldn't be their first pick."

The boards are considering open source software to cut costs.

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