Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

GNU Health VS OpenMRS

Compare GNU Health VS OpenMRS and see what are their differences

GNU Health logo GNU Health

GNU Health is a Free/Libre project for health practitioners, health institutions and governments.

OpenMRS logo OpenMRS

OpenMRS is a community-developed, open source, enterprise electronic medical record system platform.
  • GNU Health Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-01
  • OpenMRS Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-01

GNU Health features and specs

  • Open Source
    GNU Health is open source, meaning it is freely available to use, modify, and distribute. This allows healthcare organizations to reduce costs associated with licensing fees and offers flexibility in customization.
  • Comprehensive EHR
    GNU Health provides a comprehensive electronic health record (EHR) system that caters to various medical and administrative needs, including patient management, billing, and health reporting.
  • Community Support
    Being part of the GNU project, GNU Health benefits from a global community of developers and users who contribute to its development and provide support, fostering continual improvement and innovation.
  • Interoperability
    GNU Health supports standards such as HL7, facilitating interoperability with other healthcare systems and ensuring information can be shared seamlessly between platforms.
  • Multi-language Support
    It supports multiple languages, making it accessible to a diverse range of users globally and adaptable to various regional requirements.

Possible disadvantages of GNU Health

  • Technical Expertise Required
    Implementing and maintaining GNU Health may require a certain level of technical expertise in open-source software, which can be a barrier for organizations without adequate IT staff.
  • Limited Integration
    While GNU Health aims for interoperability, it may still face challenges integrating seamlessly with certain proprietary healthcare systems, which could limit its adoption in some settings.
  • Custom Development Needed
    Organizations might need custom development to tailor GNU Health to specific needs, which could require time and resources beyond what is available out of the box.
  • Learning Curve
    There can be a steep learning curve for new users, which might necessitate additional training and time for staff to effectively use the system.
  • Resource Intensive
    Although it is cost-effective due to its open-source nature, the deployment and maintenance of the system can be resource-intensive, demanding substantial initial setup efforts.

OpenMRS features and specs

  • Open Source
    OpenMRS is an open-source platform, which means it's free to use, modify, and distribute. This allows for significant cost savings compared to proprietary systems and encourages community-driven development and innovation.
  • Community Support
    The platform is supported by a global community of developers, health professionals, and organizations. This provides a rich resource for support, sharing best practices, and collaboration on new features and modules.
  • Flexibility and Customization
    OpenMRS is highly customizable, allowing healthcare providers to tailor the system to their specific needs. This includes the ability to create custom modules and use existing ones from the community.
  • Scalability
    The system is designed to scale from small clinics to large hospital networks, making it suitable for various sizes of healthcare facilities and adaptable to different resource environments.
  • Focus on Global Health
    OpenMRS is specifically designed to meet the needs of developing countries and resource-limited settings, making it ideal for improving healthcare delivery in these regions.

Possible disadvantages of OpenMRS

  • Technical Expertise Required
    Deploying and customizing OpenMRS can require significant technical knowledge. Organizations may need to invest in training or hiring skilled personnel to manage and modify the system.
  • Limited Out-of-the-Box Features
    While highly customizable, OpenMRS may lack some of the out-of-the-box features provided by commercial EHR systems. Users may need to develop custom solutions or integrate third-party tools to meet all their needs.
  • Resource Intensive
    The system can require substantial computing resources to run efficiently, which may be a challenge in settings with limited access to reliable hardware or infrastructure.
  • Learning Curve
    The complexity of customization and the breadth of functionality available mean that there can be a steep learning curve for new users, especially those without prior experience with similar systems.
  • Variable Support Quality
    While community support is a major advantage, the quality and speed of help can vary. Those needing consistent, high-quality, and timely support might find better options in commercial support plans.

GNU Health videos

openSUSE Conference 2018 - The GNU Health : Free Software technology improving Public Healthcare aro

More videos:

  • Review - GUADEC 2019 - Luis Falcón, M.D. - GNU HEALTH: The Fight for our Rights in the Public Health System
  • Review - GNU Health MacOS Client

OpenMRS videos

Review app OpenMRS

More videos:

  • Review - OpenMRS 3 - Benefits of modularity in an open-source Electronic Health Record
  • Review - Change patch for OpenMRS code review

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to GNU Health and OpenMRS)
Medical Practice Management
Electronic Health Records
Practice Management
49 49%
51% 51
Medical Billing
51 51%
49% 49

User comments

Share your experience with using GNU Health and OpenMRS. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Social recommendations and mentions

OpenMRS might be a bit more popular than GNU Health. We know about 1 link to it since March 2021 and only 1 link to GNU Health. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

GNU Health mentions (1)

OpenMRS mentions (1)

  • How can I create a hospital database?
    Instead, take a look at OpenMRS, an open source electronic medical records system used throughout the developing world. Source: almost 3 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing GNU Health and OpenMRS, you can also consider the following products

OpenEMR - OpenEMR is an open source electronic health records and medical practice management solution.

drchrono - An EHR built for your specialty:

ChARM EHR - ChARM EHR is an cloud-based, HIPAA Compliant, MU2 certified, ambulatory Electronic Health Records...

Solismed - A free clinic management system designed for use by independent practices and free clinics. It's designed to automate your business operations and help you get things done more quickly.

CureMD - CureMD is the leading provider of innovative technology and medical billing services that transform the administrative and clinical operations of healthcare organizations.

CareLogic - Web-based electronic health records management software