hl7
Python library parsing HL7 v2.x messages
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes, if you are working with HL7 2.x messages in a Python healthcare application. The library has no dependencies, is permissive licensed, and has no known vulnerabilities. The aging maintenance status is not a blocker for parsing—HL7 2.x is a stable standard—but do not expect active development or rapid bug fixes.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Low friction installation with no runtime dependencies.
- Maintenance is aging—last release was in 2022 with a commit in June 2025, suggesting stability but not active development.
License · maintenance · safety
BSD (permissive) — BSD license is permissive, allowing commercial and private use with minimal restrictions.
last release 2022-03-31 (1597 days) · last repo commit 2025-06-09 · 319 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 648,262 downloads/mo, #5,586 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install hl7
import hl7
message = hl7.parse('MSH|^~\\&|...')
patient_id = message[0][3]- Whether the package handles all HL7 2.x variants or only a subset of the standard
- Support for MLLP transport mentioned in keywords but not detailed in the excerpt
- Scope of backwards compatibility break introduced in v0.3.0
What it is and what it does
python-hl7 is a parser for HL7 version 2.x messages, the standard format for exchanging healthcare data between medical systems. It converts raw HL7 message strings into Python objects, making it possible to programmatically extract and work with healthcare data fields and segments. The library has no runtime dependencies and supports Python 3.9 through 3.13.
The package is designed for developers integrating with healthcare systems or processing medical records. It is stable but aging—last released in 2022 with a commit in June 2025—so it is suitable for maintenance work on existing systems but may not receive updates for emerging standards or Python features.
Use it for
- Extract patient demographics and identifiers from incoming HL7 admission or registration messages
- Parse lab results or clinical observations from HL7 messages for storage in a database
- Build a middleware layer to transform HL7 messages between different healthcare applications
- Validate and log HL7 message structure for compliance auditing in healthcare workflows
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes, if you are working with HL7 2.x messages in a Python healthcare application.
The library has no dependencies, is permissive licensed, and has no known vulnerabilities. The aging maintenance status is not a blocker for parsing—HL7 2.x is a stable standard—but do not expect active development or rapid bug fixes.
Install
hl7 on PyPI
Before you install
Low friction installation with no runtime dependencies. Maintenance is aging—last release was in 2022 with a commit in June 2025, suggesting stability but not active development.
License in practice
BSD license is permissive, allowing commercial and private use with minimal restrictions.
Quickstart
pip install hl7
import hl7
message = hl7.parse('MSH|^~\\&|...')
patient_id = message[0][3]Verify before relying
- Whether the package handles all HL7 2.x variants or only a subset of the standard
- Support for MLLP transport mentioned in keywords but not detailed in the excerpt
- Scope of backwards compatibility break introduced in v0.3.0
Package facts
| License | BSD permissive |
| Python support | Not specified |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | None |
| Maintenance | Aging 1,597 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 648,262 / month, #5,586 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 3 - AlphaIntended Audience :: DevelopersIntended Audience :: Healthcare IndustryLicense :: OSI Approved :: BSD LicenseOperating System :: OS IndependentProgramming Language :: PythonProgramming Language :: Python :: 3Topic :: CommunicationsTopic :: Scientific/Engineering :: Medical Science Apps.Topic :: Software Development :: Libraries :: Python Modules |
Evidence: hl7-0.4.5-py2.py3-none-any.whl
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