public static String format(Date date, Locale locale, FORMAT_TYPE type) {
		log.debug("Formatting date: " + date + " with locale " + locale);

		DateFormat dateFormat = null;

		if (type == FORMAT_TYPE.TIMESTAMP) {
            String formatValue = Context.getAdministrationService().getGlobalPropertyValue(OpenmrsConstants.GLOBAL_PROPERTY_DATEANDTIME_DISPLAY_FORMAT, null);
            if (StringUtils.isEmpty(formatValue))
                    dateFormat = DateFormat.getDateTimeInstance(DateFormat.LONG, DateFormat.LONG, locale);
            else
                    dateFormat = new OpenmrsDateFormat(new SimpleDateFormat(formatValue), locale);
    }
    else if (type == FORMAT_TYPE.TIME) {
            dateFormat = DateFormat.getTimeInstance(DateFormat.MEDIUM, locale);
    }
    else {
            //if (type == FORMAT_TYPE.DATE) (default)
            dateFormat = DateFormat.getDateInstance(DateFormat.SHORT, locale);
    }
		return date == null ? "" : dateFormat.format(date);
	}