The initiative put forward today (Mon) in Gospic, central Croatia is the first step in the digitalisation of the Primary Medical Care System in Croatia to be introduced completely by January 2011.
The fifth principle in the policy document stipulates that whenever the Government makes information publicly available through an electronic system, this must be done in such a way that users can access this freely. Users should not be forced to use proprietary software, explains the document. "Government bodies must use standards that do not force end-users to use commercial technology or restrict the users in any other way."
Read more: Croatia: Cautious Start for Open Standards in New eGovernment Policy
The Croatian government has decided to adopt a free software policy and move entirely to Open Source.
According to a document with the catchy title "Directions for Development and Use of Open Source Code Computer Programmes in Bodies and Institutions of State Administration" the Government says it needs to develop, prepare and procure open-source software.
Running a small language consultancy firm, Brnic regarded a flat-rate, high-speed ADSL connection as an essential business tool which should be "standard in the modern world".
But it wasn't that straightforward.