Use of Free Software for social transformation was the reason that prompted ThoughtWorks to join efforts with OpenMRStners In Health, in Haiti. The partnership resulted in the inauguration of Mirebalais Hospital, last April, that became the only large medical center in the world with a project based on OpenMRS – previously used only in small deployments. Up to now, over 9000 unique patients have been treated, from which 69% are women.

After the tragedy of the earthquake in Haiti in 2010, the hospital entered in the country's history for being the only one with digital equipment and full integration between them and the medical registry. The hospital has over 15000 treatments carried on, mainly in pediatrics, women health and among cronic disease patients, such as tuberculosis and AIDS.

The next steps are planning, together with the Haitian Government, for implementation of the system in other centers in the country. That will make it possible to share patients data as quick as possible.

OpenMRS is a Free Software focused on developing medical registries in environments with limited resources. The platform came to life from the need to escalate the AIDS treatment in Africa, in 2004. The system was created in a modular fashion, which alows for the creation of custom functionality according to local needs.

Photo: Tárlis Schneider/Indicefoto