1. Poverty in 3rd world is increasing and quality and availability and affordability of clinics, gp and hospital care is getting rapidly worse. and as we know 95% of cases are 5% of problems (some of these 5% are minor and easily treatable, others are life threatening or even incurable)

2. I checked out recently on the web with search thru http://www.altavista.com for medical expert systems - I find almost nothing, nothing which is open and free to users, and most of which is oriented to USA medicine. I find nothing for 3rd world. Amazingly there is nothing on the www.who.org site about expert systems... (UN WHO - World Health Organisation).

3. I am looking at something simple for malaria, diarrhoeia, cholera, cerebral malaria, etc etc etc... will have a menu structure, can or will have some photos or sketches when required, will prescribe drugs or non-drug treatment (e.g. home made saline solution) where suitable.

4. The system will be sited (free) on the internet and open to all countries. can also be sited locally on a pc hard disc to run locally to save connect time and also for cases where no internet or web connection (i.,e. most cases) but where computer and maybe electricty exist...

5. So - we need doctors and pharmacists to create the material - simple text will do quite often - and i can work that into web pages with connections / links etc...

6. I guess we start with an outline - flow chart etc etc...

7. Any volunteers? - maybe circulate this email / webpage to a bunch of people you each know who could contribute either at framework or detail level.

System will at start be in english then we will commission translations to french, portuguese , arabic , spanish, swahili, ndebele, shona, etc..

8. We will have big disclaimer notices all over the system and in many cases the system will diagnose - GO TO A DOCTOR!

9. The expert system can be used by individuals, employing companies, clinics, pharmacies, paramedics and even by trainee and experienced doctors.

Email: alexweir@usa.net