Abstract:
Open Source Software (OSS) is now in use in hospitals across the world and free webbased software applications are developing apace. Companies such as Google and Mozilla are inventing new business models, offering their customers free software and deriving revenue by channelling users into profitable services such as web search. In a virtuous circle, many of these types of businesses use web-based applications and OSS themselves to develop and deliver their products. In this paper, we examine the rise of free web applications and OSS in health care. We discuss the recent changes in software application delivery and business models and look at how healthcare organisations in both developed and developing countries can take advantage of new business models to ensure financial sustainability of healthcare software projects.