Fascinating information about how the Malaysian open source GP software, PrimaCare, is funded and deployed. Seems like a model most worthy of emulation here in Oz.
Tim C -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Re: More on: Re: [GPCG_TALK] GPs split on software ads Date: Mon, 14 Mar 2005 22:42:41 +0800 From: Dr Molly Cheah <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Tim Churches <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Thanks, Molly. What is the business model for Primacare? In other >words, how is its development funded? Has PCDOM just carried the costs? >What about ongoing support - does PCDOM plan to charge for support >services, or will it leave that to other IT support firms? We are >debating business models for an open source GP system here in Oz. BTW, >candidates so far include a) finishing Gnumed b) adapting OSCAR, Care2x >or Primacare c) waiting for VistA Office and adapting that d) writing a >brand new system from scratch, with developmet outsourced to India > >Regards, > >Tim C Hi Tim, You may not be aware that some members of PCDOM (>40GPs) had formed a business entity called GHCMedical Informatics and Management, which hire programmers to continue development and maintain PrimaCare. The same people also manage PCDOM's web-site and also provide IT services to other NGOs. GHC offers IT student industrial attachment as well. For example, GHC develop the Malaysian Council for Tobacco Control's web-site as a student project using plone (thus advocating the use of OSS by IT students). See http://www.mctc.org.my We host it on PCDOM server and thus make some money too. GHC create the "PrimaCare Server" and allow IT companies, representing different regions to deploy PrimaCare. The IT company does the pre-deployment study, do the network for clinics, deploy the server, do the training and maintenance (except) the maintenance of the software which we standardize. The formats used for the study, the report, training content, manuals etc are provided by us. The IT company gets percentage of the service charges for doing the study, deploy, train etc. We don't dictate their charges for doing the network or supply of workstations, printers etc. but we vet their pricing so that they don't profiteer. We also ensure that they install and teach the GPs and their staffs the use of Open Office and web browzers other than Microsoft IE. Though the GPs have the option to use windows for their workstations, the PrimaCare Server runs on Debian Linux and we standardize its configurations for updates and patching processes. We have not done a marketing exercise, but we are talking to the Doctors' Co-operative Society for mass deployment. We're waiting for the Ver4 to do that. I'll be very happy to work with the doctors in Australia. As you know, our agenda is participating in the WSIS conference in Tunisia end of this year, a follow-up of the Geneva Meeting in 2003 where we participated. We wanted to be able to provide the framework for doing a French version for the African countries, hence the Ver4. We had presented PrimaCare to the United Nations' Inspectorate Unit a couple of months ago and its in line with the UN's agenda to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. Rgds, Molly _______________________________________________ Gnumed-devel mailing list Gnumed-devel@gnu.org http://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/gnumed-devel
