Health Service Chooses Windows 7 over Open Source Operating Systems

Microsoft’s Windows 7 operating system will be installed on nearly 100,000 computers belonging to NHS Scotland, after the Redmond-based technology company reached a new agreement with the health service.

According to The Register, the partnership was agreed this summer and is worth approximately £5 million (€6.1 million / $8 million).

NHS Scotland will thus dump open source alternatives in the favor of Microsoft’s Windows 7 operating system, a decision that may seem a bit awkward given the fact that the technology company is getting ready to launch the brand new Windows 8.

“This is a good deal for Microsoft, Trustmarque and the Health Service in Scotland. The users were driving this decision to go back to Microsoft,” sales and marketing director Angelo di Ventura told the aforementioned source.

17 out of the 22 health boards across Scotland will sign up for the new program, with the deal expected help the service save up to 1 million pounds (€1.2 million / $1.6 million).

This isn’t however the first collaboration between Microsoft and the Scottish National Health Service. The previous agreement ended in 2008, when NSH Scotland decided to save some money by choosing open source software for its workstations.

“At a time of financial constraint in the public sector, technology can play an important role in helping to improve efficiency, reduce costs and ultimately improve patient care,” Mark Smith, director of healthcare, life sciences and health solutions group at Microsoft UK explained.

“We look forward to working with the NHS Scotland on this implementation, which we believe will have a positive impact on patient services.”