Who Holds the Record · country brief · data as of 2026-10-01Who holds the health record in Belize?
In 2026, Belize scores 34 of 100 on a person's right to see, control and share their own health record: rank 130= of 196 countries (likely range 98 to 164), in the Weak band (25 to 44). Who holds the keys: State. Source: Who Holds the Record, SuperTruth, data as of 2026-10-01.
Belize has run one public health record (BHIS) since 2008, but its 2021 data protection law is still not in force.
Published · updated · data as of 2026-10-01 · research tool, not legal advice
Can I get my health records in Belize?
Access to the full record scores 25 of 100 in Belize, against a median of 43 across 196 countries. The Data Protection Act 2021 promises a free copy within one month, but in September 2026 it was still not in force. No patient portal for the BHIS record was found; the only patient app shows the vaccination card.
Can I control who sees my health record in Belize?
Control and consent scores 25 of 100 in Belize, against a median of 30 across 196 countries. Every patient gets one client number in BHIS, which public clinicians use to see their history wherever they are treated. No opt-out and no patient-visible access log were found, and the 2021 consent rules are not in force.
Eight rights, against Dominican Republic, Antigua and Barbuda, Cuba and the EU
| Patient access to the full record20% | 25 | 40 · 35 · 45 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patient control and consent20% | 25 | 30 · 30 · 30 | |
| Privacy and security15% | 30 | 35 · 42 · 33 | |
| Connected care journey15% | 55 | 30 · 28 · 25 | |
| Protection from commercial use10% | 25 | 42 · 42 · 45 | |
| Clinician access at the point of care10% | 55 | 28 · 25 · 25 | |
| Research and trial consent5% | 43 | 49 · 43 · 49 | |
| Clinical AI governance5% | 20 | 25 · 20 · 40 |
Black dot: Belize. Hollow dots: Dominican Republic, Antigua and Barbuda, Cuba (scores on the right, same order). Grey line: median of all 196 countries. Dashed teal line: EU median. Overall: Belize 34, EU median 61. Scores move in steps of about 5; read the rank with its likely range.
What would Belize need to change to score higher?
Belize sits in Weak (25 to 44); Mixed starts at 45. The two rights furthest below the 196-country median, weighted, are patient access to the full record (25, median 43) and privacy and security (30, median 45). The published rubric reads:
- Patient access to the full record: A national portal showing at least part of the record (summary, prescriptions, labs) to most residents puts access at 60 to 75; a near-full record with export, long history and majority use, 76 to 90.
- Privacy and security: Health-sector enforcement on the record: an independent regulator deciding health-data cases, breach notification and penalties applied.
Which laws give health record rights in Belize?
- Data Protection Act, 2021 (Act No. 45 of 2021) (2021): Free access within one month, 72-hour breach notice; health is not sensitive data. Not yet in force.
- Freedom of Information Act, Cap. 13 (1994): Right of access to documents of ministries and prescribed authorities, with review by the Ombudsman.
- Social Security Act, Cap. 44 (National Health Insurance Part) (2001): Creates the National Health Insurance Scheme as the financing and purchasing mechanism for health care.
Strain and split context, not scored
- Doctors per 10,000
- 13.4 2021
- Nurses and midwives per 10,000
- 20.6 2023
- Private insurance + out-of-pocket
- 33.3% 2023
- Record reaches private care?
- unknown
Published stories
- 2025-05-19 · 7 News Belize Patient says private hospital has refused for months to release her records
- 2025-02-05 · 7 News Belize Patient told hospital policy bars her from seeing her own medical records
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