Who Holds the Record · country brief · data as of 2026-10-01Who holds the health record in Bahamas?
In 2026, Bahamas scores 39 of 100 on a person's right to see, control and share their own health record: rank 98= of 196 countries (likely range 79 to 131), in the Weak band (25 to 44). Who holds the keys: Institutional. Source: Who Holds the Record, SuperTruth, data as of 2026-10-01.
Bahamians can ask each provider for a copy of their record under a 2003 law, but public clinics were still moving off paper in 2026.
Published · updated · data as of 2026-10-01 · research tool, not legal advice
Can I get my health records in Bahamas?
Access to the full record scores 45 of 100 in Bahamas, against a median of 43 across 196 countries. The 2003 Data Protection Act gives a right to a copy within 40 days, but the Minister may set a fee and no national portal with the full record was verified. NHI's patient portal for its own providers offsets the fee.
Can I control who sees my health record in Bahamas?
Control and consent scores 35 of 100 in Bahamas, against a median of 30 across 196 countries. The 2003 law has no consent rules, and no opt-out or patient-visible access log was found. NHI says a patient can consent to have their record shared with a new provider, which puts this at the top of the lowest band.
Eight rights, against Chile, Barbados, Jamaica and the EU
| Patient access to the full record20% | 45 | 45 · 45 · 40 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patient control and consent20% | 35 | 35 · 30 · 30 | |
| Privacy and security15% | 45 | 40 · 44 · 48 | |
| Connected care journey15% | 35 | 38 · 35 · 30 | |
| Protection from commercial use10% | 40 | 42 · 40 · 50 | |
| Clinician access at the point of care10% | 30 | 35 · 30 · 30 | |
| Research and trial consent5% | 46 | 50 · 43 · 46 | |
| Clinical AI governance5% | 25 | 30 · 28 · 25 |
Black dot: Bahamas. Hollow dots: Chile, Barbados, Jamaica (scores on the right, same order). Grey line: median of all 196 countries. Dashed teal line: EU median. Overall: Bahamas 39, EU median 61. Scores move in steps of about 5; read the rank with its likely range.
What would Bahamas need to change to score higher?
Bahamas sits in Weak (25 to 44); Mixed starts at 45. The two rights furthest below the 196-country median, weighted, are protection from commercial use (40, median 45) and connected care journey (35, median 38). The published rubric reads:
- Protection from commercial use: Clear limits on selling health data or using it for marketing, covering apps and data brokers as well as providers.
- Connected care journey: Primary care, hospitals, labs, pharmacy, claims and public health linked to one record and used at national scale.
Which laws give health record rights in Bahamas?
- Data Protection (Privacy of Personal Information) Act, 2003 (Ch. 324A) (2003): Law in force: health is sensitive data, copy within 40 days, fines up to $100,000.
- Data Protection Act, 2025 (2025): Passed replacement: consent for health data, 72-hour breach notice, marketing consent. Not yet in force.
- National Health Insurance Act, 2025 (2025): Providers must record care in NHIA's EHR; medical history shared only with consent; confidentiality offences.
Strain and split context, not scored
- Doctors per 10,000
- 18.9 2017
- Nurses and midwives per 10,000
- 42.2 2023
- Private insurance + out-of-pocket
- 56.8% 2023
- Record reaches private care?
- unknown
Published stories
- 2025-11-12 · The Tribune (Nassau) Patient waits nearly three months for own hospital records after paying the fee
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