Healthy outlook for EMIS

HEALTHCARE software supplier EMIS has said it remains confident of the group’s long term growth prospects and is “well placed” to benefit from the ongoing changes in the NHS.

For the six months to June, the Leeds-based group said the roll-out of EMIS Web progressed as expected.

In the period, the group said it also continued to build the infrastructure necessary to support the further development and increased roll-out of EMIS Web, which will continue in the second half.

EMIS reported that its UK market penetration remains strong and that Scotland has been a key area of growth for EMIS GP systems.

The company said: “The directors welcome moves within the NHS to put responsibility for decision-making and commissioning of services in the hands of GPs and other clinicians, as the NHS progresses from a centralised approach to IT to a more plural one, allowing improved healthcare through interoperability between different systems.

“EMIS Web is a key element in the transformational changes being implemented by GP commissioning groups, providing the means to connect NHS systems. The directors therefore remain confident that the group is well placed to benefit from the ongoing changes in the NHS.”

EMIS said Rx, the group’s pharmacy system provider, has continued to grow its market share, whilst Egton, its engineering services division, has started to work with pharmacies introduced by Rx.

EMIS recently took the decision to exit the Canadian market and to sell the majority of the group’s remaining assets in Canada to QHR Technologies.

It also said its involvement in developing and implementing an electronic health information system for the Australian Defence Force is continuing according to plan.

The group reported that it continues to be highly cash generative with cash of £18m and bank debt of £5.2m.