System Requirements Analysis for Picture Archiving and Communication System Deployment in Iraq

Abstract

Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS) are essential components of digital radiology because they support the storage, retrieval, display, protection, and exchange of medical images across hospital departments. In resource-limited environments, PACS adoption is affected by several system-related factors. These factors include usability and data security, retrieval speed, interoperability, and infrastructure readiness, as well as adequate user training; This study provides an engineering analysis of the design requirements for PACS-based medical imaging systems in Iraqi healthcare institutions. A quantitative questionnaire was distributed to 60 healthcare professionals and technical stakeholders to identify workflow limitations, PACS awareness, functional requirements, non-functional requirements, and adoption barriers. The results showed limited practical exposure to PACS among respondents. The main problems during the workflow were the delayed access to patient data and reports, human errors during data entry, high update costs, and weak integration between hospital systems. The main requirements identified from these findings include fast retrieval, easy maintenance, scalability, reliability, privacy protection, and workflow integration. The findings were mapped into engineering design implications to support the development of a locally adapted PACS platform. The study indicates that the successful implementation of the PACS system in Iraqi healthcare institutions can be achieved through a phased deployment approach, a standardized architecture, user training, security controls, and interoperability planning, as essential conditions.