Thanks for that link Rod. A very interesting article. I wonder how a non-open source application earns a award like this?
"Incidentally, PrimaCare has been named the Best Open Source Software in 2004 by the Malaysia National Computer Confederation." Anyway, if the quotes attributed to Molly in the article are correct then I believe that my opinion of her using the open source tag as a marketing and fund-raising scheme is correct. :-( So, Dr. Churches. It seems the answer to your question is likely that it isn't open source and you cannot download it from anywhere. Apparently she is concerned you might endanger patients with it. On Wed, 2007-11-14 at 00:01 -0800, Rod Roark wrote: > According to the article at http://www.asia-commons.net/healthcare > Molly says: > > "We still have an issue with licensing. Being open source, the > product could allow any coder to make changes on it, which may > impact on the patients safety and outcome. We think that is not the > best model. So we are coming out with our own licensing for the > field of health-care. > "... When we provide the application to the doctors, we actually > provide the PrimaCare server -- we provide the hardware -- which is > a Linux server, in addition to training, support. We charge for > services. The hardware would cost..." > > Clearly this does not describe anything like open source software, and > certainly not GPL. I think the OSI definition is a pretty good > standard by which to measure claims of open source: > > http://www.opensource.org/docs/definition.php > > I for one would accept nothing less. > > Rod > > On Tuesday 13 November 2007 04:54, Tim Cook wrote: > > On Sat, 2007-11-10 at 18:36 +1100, Tim C wrote: > > > On 10/11/2007, Jason Tan Boon Teck <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > Dear Molly, > > > > > > > > > > > > We are interested to participate in the exhibition, to promote > PCDOM > > > > PrimaCare. > > > > > > Is PCDOM PrimaCare open-source software? If so, where or from whom > can > > > I obtain a copy of its source code? > > > > Dr. Cheah, > > > > I am wondering, especially in your capacity of leadership in OSHCA, > why > > these seemingly simple questions, but important questions (a link > would > > do) go unanswered; while you do apparently have the time to answer > other > > questions about a conference that you do not control (MAMPU/OSSC)? > > > > Is your real allegiance to OSHCA? Do you have an understanding and a > > true belief in open source? Do you have an allegiance to your > business > > around PCDOM Primacare that might preclude you from being a true > open > > source company (in SPIRIT as well as legally?). > > > > I think that these are important issues as we approach the (delayed > on > > your part) December AGM for OSHCA. > > > > Please let's make these issues and attitudes public. > > > > As you told me when I visited with you; you are compliant with the > GPL > > when you distribute PCDOM Primacare (and source code) to Malaysian > GPs. > > This may be true that because you give the source to your customers > you > > are compliant. > > > > However, I personally question whether this is in keeping with the > true > > meaning (and spirit) of open source and peer review. I do not mean > to > > disparage your peers in Malaysia. But frankly how can they evaluate > the > > quality and performance of the software? > > > > If you hold yourself out to be a free and open source software > > distributor then let us ALL see it. > > > > My frank and personal opinion is that you are a person trying to > > leverage a marketing movement (open source) without really > understanding > > and appreciating the long term consequences. > > > > I look forward to your comments. > > > > Kind regards, > > Tim > > > > PS. Note that my postings to the OSHCA members list has somehow/for > some > > reason been blocked as of last month. > > > > -- Timothy Cook, MSc Health Informatics Research & Development Services http://timothywayne.cook.googlepages.com/home LinkedIn Profile:http://www.linkedin.com/in/timothywaynecook
