What is OpenMRS used for?

OpenMRS is an open-source electronic medical record platform aimed at improving health care in resource-constrained environments. It is a good fit for clinics in resource-constrained settings and health programs building customized record systems.

Is OpenMRS open source?

Yes. OpenMRS is open source under a custom licence. Its source code is on GitHub at openmrs/openmrs-core and is written mainly in Java.

Yes. OpenMRS is open source, so the software itself is free to use under the terms of its own licence.

Can I self-host OpenMRS?

Yes. OpenMRS can be self-hosted on your own server or infrastructure.

What are some alternatives to OpenMRS?

Similar open-source tools in the ERP category include OpenEMR, Metasfresh and Ever Gauzy. SaaS products in the same category include Infor, Acumatica and Afiyet.

Is OpenMRS actively maintained?

Yes. The most recent commit to OpenMRS was on 2 October 2026, and the latest release is 2.7.6, published on 12 September 2025. The project has 1.9k stars on GitHub.

OpenMRS: open-source ERP

About OpenMRS

OpenMRS is a patient-based medical record system that gives health care providers a free, customizable electronic medical record. Its mission is to improve health care delivery in resource-constrained environments by coordinating a global community that builds a robust, scalable, user-driven, open-source medical record platform. This repository holds the core API and web application code in Java.

To build it you need a Java JDK of at least version 8 for the master branch, Maven and Git. The build produces an openmrs.war file that you deploy to an application server such as Tomcat or Jetty, and instructions cover running on Jetty or Cargo with custom ports. A Docker build is also documented, along with a software development kit.

OpenMRS is extended through modules, and the README points to developer guides, a wiki and a website for documentation. It also describes how to contribute code, review code and translate, how to report issues, and where to find community and support. The project carries a Digital Public Goods Alliance badge, and the repository topics cover EMR, EHR and hospital use.

Key features

Patient-based electronic medical record
Java API and web application core
Module system for extending functionality
Software development kit
Docker build and WAR deployment
Developer guides and community support

Good fit for

→Clinics in resource-constrained settings
→Health programs building customized record systems

Built with: Java
Tags: emr; ehr; medical-records; healthcare; java; hospital; openmrs; self-hosted

OpenMRS: questions and answers

What is OpenMRS used for?: OpenMRS is an open-source electronic medical record platform aimed at improving health care in resource-constrained environments. It is a good fit for clinics in resource-constrained settings and health programs building customized record systems.
Is OpenMRS open source?: Yes. OpenMRS is open source under a custom licence. Its source code is on GitHub at openmrs/openmrs-core and is written mainly in Java.
Is OpenMRS free?: Yes. OpenMRS is open source, so the software itself is free to use under the terms of its own licence.
Can I self-host OpenMRS?: Yes. OpenMRS can be self-hosted on your own server or infrastructure.
What are some alternatives to OpenMRS?: Similar open-source tools in the ERP category include OpenEMR, Metasfresh and Ever Gauzy. SaaS products in the same category include Infor, Acumatica and Afiyet.
Is OpenMRS actively maintained?: Yes. The most recent commit to OpenMRS was on 2 October 2026, and the latest release is 2.7.6, published on 12 September 2025. The project has 1.9k stars on GitHub.