Likewise - apologies if this is a repeat. Tim C
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Tim Churches <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: 1 Dec 2007 17:08 Subject: Re: [openhealth] Re: [oshca_members] OSHCA's Aims and Objectives To: OSHCA Members List <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Cc: openhealth@yahoogroups.com, [EMAIL PROTECTED] Molly Cheah wrote: > And Tim, please do me a favour by emailing the Hon Secretary of PCDOM at > [EMAIL PROTECTED] <pcdom%40ocdom.org.my> rather than stating on these mailing lists and tell > them that you believe that PCDOM's promotion of PrimaCare as an open > source tool is not correct, thus implying that PCDOM is unethical. I have forwarded a copy of my previous post to the PCDOM address you give. As I said, PCDOM needs to be very cautious and ultra-scrupulous about how it represents its PrimaCare software, simply because you are the President of both PCDOM and OSHCA. If that nexus didn't exist, i would not be particularly concerned. Tim Churches > Molly Cheah wrote: >> No Tim. That was Tims' intepretation of what is open source. Frankly, >> PCDOM was being careful of building up its business model and its >> strategic alliances with organisations to ensure sustainability and >> accountability issues which are being built into its PCDOM PrimaCare >> Public License; one that is similar to OpenMRS's Public License. >> (Please see OpenMRS's license as guide if you are that interested at >> http://www.openmrs.org) Admittedly PCDOM is slower that OpenMRS >> efforts but really we didn't wanted to be "torched" like the past >> experiences of other open source projects promoted especially by >> individuals. Like I said PCDOM will make that available when they are >> ready, not by being harrassed by the so-called open source >> individuals. PCDOM, as a professional organisation, unlike individuals >> who promote a particular application which folds up and can go away, >> were advised to take sufficient steps in its licensing to ensure that >> it is indemnified for the freedom to make changes by others that >> compromise patient safety. Currently the law in Malaysia on patient >> safety does not recognise statements that does or does not provide >> warranty of the application (tool) used in patient care. >> >> I will bring this issue to the attention of the PCDOM Committee at >> their next meeting for their action. >> >> Molly >> Tim Cook wrote: >>> Thanks for the clarification that Primacare is not open source. >>> >>> Regards, >>> Tim >>> >>> >>> On Sat, 2007-12-01 at 12:57 +1100, Tim Churches wrote: >>> >>>> Molly Cheah wrote: >>>> >>>>> Dear all, >>>>> In view of the type of posts to these lists and that I do not wish >>>>> >>>> to be >>>> >>>>> drawn to the same type of exchanges that led to the demise of OSHCA >>>>> >>>> from >>>> >>>>> 2003-2006, I would like to make the following statement. Besides, I >>>>> >>>> do >>>> >>>>> not have the time, interest and energy to do this, particularly for >>>>> >>>> the >>>> >>>>> next 2-3 weeks. >>>>> >>>>> I was given the mandate to resurrect OSHCA with the following >>>>> >>>> outcomes. >>>> >>>>> 1. To register OSHCA in a developing country. (Done) >>>>> 2. To organise OSHCA conference after registration (Done) >>>>> 3. To obtain funding to organise the OSHCA conference (Done) >>>>> 4. To take over oshca.org from Minouru Corporation for OSHCA (Done) >>>>> >>>>> I am a member of OSHCA in my personal capacity. Though I am the >>>>> President of PCDOM, PCDOM's membership (as Associate, NGO) is being >>>>> represented by PCDOM's Hon. Secretary. PCDOM's ownership of >>>>> >>>> PrimaCare >>>> >>>>> and therefore its policies, rights and freedom to manage and sustain >>>>> PrimaCare is governed by its constitution and its contract with the >>>>> Malaysian Government who funded the development of PrimaCare solely >>>>> >>>> for >>>> >>>>> the use of GPs in Malaysia. As an advocate of open source, I was >>>>> instrumental (not sole decision maker) in getting PCDOM to agree to >>>>> develop PrimaCare using an entire stack of open source software. I >>>>> >>>> was >>>> >>>>> invited to present PrimaCare at OSHCA2002 at LA. That was the start >>>>> >>>> of >>>> >>>>> my association with OSHCA. If one looks at any presentations of >>>>> PrimaCare anywhere and anytime, it was never mentioned that >>>>> >>>> PrimaCare >>>> >>>>> was released under GPL. In fact PrimaCare was never released except >>>>> >>>> to >>>> >>>>> GPs in Malaysia. My past verbal statements had always been that the >>>>> principles underlying the GPL can be applied to the manner we >>>>> >>>> currently >>>> >>>>> distribute PrimaCare to GPs. However, PCDOM has its legal commitment >>>>> >>>> to >>>> >>>>> the Malaysian Government, its community being the GPs in Malaysia >>>>> >>>> and no >>>> >>>>> one else. However, PCDOM is interested in making PrimaCare available >>>>> >>>> to >>>> >>>>> organisations outside Malaysia under an appropriate open source >>>>> >>>> license >>>> >>>>> (with Malaysian Govt approval). >>>>> >>>> Thank you for that clarification, Dr Cheah. I only wish you had >>>> deigned >>>> to respond several weeks ago, when these issues were first raised, >>>> rather than treat us all with what I can only regard as a truculent >>>> silence. >>>> >>>> Anyway, at least we are all now absolutely clear that PCDOM PrimaCare >>>> is >>>> not an open source application: it is not freely available under an >>>> open >>>> source license. Phew, that was like getting blood out of a stone, but >>>> mission accomplished! >>>> >>>> >>>>>> *Article 4 - Aims and Objectives* >>>>>> >>>>>> OSHCA is a non-profit organisation that provides the collaborative >>>>>> platform and forum to promote and facilitate Free/Open Source >>>>>> >>>> Software >>>> >>>>>> in Health Care. OSHCA's membership comprises a community of people, >>>>>> civil societies and professional bodies in health care and >>>>>> >>>> informatics >>>> >>>>>> industries that promotes the Free/Open Source Software Concepts in >>>>>> Health Care. OSHCA helps policy makers, commercial enterprises, and >>>>>> users take advantage of the benefits of Free/Open Source Software. >>>>>> >>>>>> *4.1 - Vision:* >>>>>> >>>>>> Free/Open Source Health Care Software will provide a viable and >>>>>> sustainable alternative in mainstream Information and Communication >>>>>> Technologies (ICT) for positive impact in health outcomes as >>>>>> >>>> adjunct >>>> >>>>>> to building a global knowledge society. >>>>>> >>>>>> *4.2 - **Mission:* >>>>>> >>>>>> *4.2.1 - *Promote to policy makers the concept of Free/Open Source >>>>>> Software in Health Care so as to adopt or give equal opportunity to >>>>>> Free/Open Source Solutions. >>>>>> >>>>>> *4.2.2 - *Provide leadership role in refining the Free/Open Source >>>>>> Software Concepts as applied to health care to ensure best >>>>>> >>>> practices >>>> >>>>>> and patient safety are not compromised. >>>>>> >>>>>> *4.2.3 - *Make recommendations on the development and use of Health >>>>>> Information Standards for data interchange and representation >>>>>> >>>> formalisms. >>>> >>>>>> *4.2.4 - *Provide Guidelines for Quality Control on Free/Open >>>>>> >>>> Source >>>> >>>>>> Health Care Software development. >>>>>> >>>>>> *4.2.5 - *Participate in and support Human Capacity Building, >>>>>> including contributing/participating in project proposals and >>>>>> >>>> project >>>> >>>>>> management to achieve developing country priorities. >>>>>> >>>>>> *4.2.6 - *Enable collaboration of members including, sharing >>>>>> >>>> technical >>>> >>>>>> knowledge in Free/Open Source Health Care Projects and providing >>>>>> Information Resources to Free/Open Source Health Care software >>>>>> developers. >>>>>> >>>>>> *4.2.7 - *Promote and help the formation of development consortia >>>>>> >>>> for >>>> >>>>>> health care related projects, including assisting in finding >>>>>> >>>> funding >>>> >>>>>> for projects to reach critical mass for a visible and lasting >>>>>> >>>> impact >>>> >>>>>> on health related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). >>>>>> >>>>>> *4.2.8 - *Use collaboration with strategic organisations with >>>>>> compatible goals as a means of achieving the mission. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> 4.3 - Principles >>>>>> >>>>>> *4.3.1 - Promote a globally sustainable approach to building **ICT >>>>>> solutions for health care* >>>>>> Free/Open Source Software development encourages global >>>>>> >>>> collaboration. >>>> >>>>>> OSHCA will encourage approaches that seek active participation in >>>>>> Free/Open Source Software development in health care by users, >>>>>> developers, and policy makers from all parts of the world. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> *4.3.2 - Stay lightweight and flexible* >>>>>> >>>>>> *In the spirit of Free/Open Source where development is user and >>>>>> >>>> needs >>>> >>>>>> driven, facilitation needs to support highly desirable dynamism, >>>>>> adaptability, and flexibility. This approach seeks to facilitate >>>>>> natural processes that produce better quality, usability, >>>>>> >>>> longevity, >>>> >>>>>> maintainability and cost effectiveness.* >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> *4.3.3 - Be open to diverse opinions and technologies* >>>>>> >>>>>> *OSHCA is inclusive of all health care-related Free/Open Source >>>>>> activities. In a Free/Open Source world, the success of an idea, >>>>>> standard, or product is measured by its practical use.* >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> *4.3.4 - Ethical Deployment & Maintaining Standards* >>>>>> >>>>>> OSHCA's focus is the legal and ethical deployment of reliable and >>>>>> robust Free/Open Source systems in all areas of health care. This >>>>>> means taking a leadership role to ensure standards are maintained, >>>>>> >>>> and >>>> >>>>>> working with legislative and standards bodies to encourage the >>>>>> inclusion of Free/Open Source principles in their policies. >>>>>> >>>> Reading through those aims and objectives, I now very clearly perceive >>>> a >>>> mix of goals, specifically the difference between phrases such as >>>> these: >>>> >>>> a) "...promote and facilitate Free/Open Source Software in Health >>>> Care" >>>> b) "...promotes the Free/Open Source Software Concepts in Health >>>> Care." >>>> c) "OSHCA helps policy makers, commercial enterprises, and users take >>>> advantage of the benefits of Free/Open Source Software." >>>> >>>> and these: >>>> >>>> d) "Free/Open Source Health Care Software" >>>> e) "...Free/Open Source Health Care Software development" >>>> f) "Free/Open Source Software development in health care by users, >>>> developers, and policy makers from all parts of the world." >>>> >>>> I think there is room for, and a need for, an organisation which >>>> concentrates on the strategic goal of promoting the development and >>>> release of open source health care software, rather than on the more >>>> limited tactical goal of promoting the use of open source software in >>>> health care settings. >>>> >>>> Or can both these goals be accommodated within OSHCA? >>>> >>>> Tim Churches >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> oshca_members mailing list >> [EMAIL PROTECTED] <oshca_members%40oshca.org> >> http://mailman.oshca.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/oshca_members >> >> > > > _______________________________________________ > oshca_members mailing list > [EMAIL PROTECTED] <oshca_members%40oshca.org> > http://mailman.oshca.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/oshca_members > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
