HIE Library Open Source

SPIRIT open-source healthcare initiative receives European Commission support  

Minoru Development SARL, CONECTA srl, and Sistema have signed a contract with the European Commission's Fifth Framework Programme to implement an open-source approach to accelerate the uptake and improvement of software for regional healthcare networks. The €450 000 15-month SPIRIT project will create an index of open-source healthcare resources and a web portal to help healthcare organisations in Europe and around the world to find relevant open source partners, projects, and software.

Brian Bray, President of Minoru and project co-ordinator said: "We are pleased to see that the exciting possibilities of open-source software are being recognised and fostered by programmes such as the EC Fifth Framework. This is a wonderful opportunity to accelerate healthcare informatics research, and at the same time create new business opportunities in healthcare deployment." Joseph Dal Molin, a principal of Minoru added: "This project will create the foundation necessary to accelerate the realisation of the strategic benefits of open source in healthcare. The open-source business model will foster an 'evidence-based' software industry in healthcare, one which strongly resonates with the traditional values and processes of healthcare innovation."

SPIRIT will harness the power of the open-source model and the Internet to provide a platform for the global promotion, dissemination and uptake of best practices and interoperable solutions in healthcare informatics.

More information on the project:  www.openhealth.com