/
OMRS Meetings Host Country Expectations

OMRS Meetings Host Country Expectations

We are thrilled that you are considering hosting an OpenMRS conference. These events are the heartbeat of our community where developers, implementers, and health leaders converge to shape the future of Digital Health.

Our goal is to create an event that is budget-neutral, realistic, and high-impact. This guide outlines the partnership between the global OpenMRS community and the Local Hosting Team to ensure a seamless experience for all attendees.

Primary Expectation

The primary expectation for any hosting team is to foster a welcoming environment that bridges the gap between global expertise and local impact. We strive for:

  • Local Leadership: Active participation from the hosting country’s Ministry of Health (MoH) and implementing partners.

  • Strategic Presence: Keynote addresses from local health leaders during plenary sessions.

  • Operational Excellence: Ensuring all resources—from WiFi to transport—are reliable and of high quality.

🛠 What the Local Hosting Partner Provides

As the boots on the ground, the Hosting Partner is essential for the logistical and cultural success of the meeting.

  • Dedicated Personnel: A local organizing team to help plan the event and a logistics team to manage the "day-of" operations.

  • Government & Partner Liaison: Identifying and securing Ministry speakers for the opening and closing ceremonies.

  • Logistical Support: Coordinating banquet needs, airport transportation, and potential site visits to local health facilities.

  • Vendor Management: Ensuring local vendors deliver contracted goods (e.g., banners, t-shirts, promotional materials, and awards).

  • Local Promotion: Driving awareness and attendance within the host country’s health and tech sectors.

  • Technical Participation: Ensuring a local project development team attends and participates in the meeting.

🤝 What OpenMRS Provides

The global OpenMRS community supports the local team with the framework and financial oversight needed to scale the event.

  • Strategic Guidance: Team members dedicated to supporting the local organizing committee and providing budget sign-off.

  • Financial Management: Providing startup funds, coordinating sponsorship, and managing the scholarship application process.

  • Registration & Outreach: Launching and overseeing the registration process and promoting the event to the global community.

  • Invitations: Managing strategic invitations with input from the local host and the Ministry of Health.

  • Operational Tools: Assistance with estimating attendance and providing general meeting coordination.

Success Criteria

A successful OpenMRS meeting is one where every attendee feels welcomed, the local Ministry of Health feels heard and the event remains financially sustainable. By combining local expertise with global support, we create a space where innovation thrives.