Open Source and Public Health: A Primer

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2-Jan-2011.pdf
Published Dec 17, 2019
DOI: https://doi.org/10.18103/mra.v7i12.2011

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Noam Arzt Michael Berry

Abstract

While there have been significant advances in open source software development and products available to public health, there appears to be much confusion around this topic related to open source licensing, management, fair use, and implied cost. This article will provide needed definitions of open source and proprietary software; describe the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) around each; and provide examples of key open source products in use outside of public health. It postulates that the shared tradition of collaboration in both public health agencies and open source communities provides a unique opportunity for the success of open source in public health; and explores this with a case study of open source management and community which may serve as an exemplar of how an open source perspective can fuel a healthy alternative to the proprietary software market in public health.

Keywords: open source, software, public health, EHR

Article Details

How to Cite
ARZT, Noam; BERRY, Michael. Open Source and Public Health: A Primer. Medical Research Archives, [S.l.], v. 7, n. 12, dec. 2019. ISSN 2375-1924. Available at: <https://esmed.org/MRA/mra/article/view/2011>. Date accessed: 19 apr. 2024. doi: https://doi.org/10.18103/mra.v7i12.2011.
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Issue
Vol 7 No 12 (2019): Vol.7 Issue 12, December, 2019
Section
Research Articles

The Medical Research Archives grants authors the right to publish and reproduce the unrevised contribution in whole or in part at any time and in any form for any scholarly non-commercial purpose with the condition that all publications of the contribution include a full citation to the journal as published by the Medical Research Archives.

 

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