Who Holds the Record · country brief · data as of 2026-10-01Who holds the health record in Bhutan?
In 2026, Bhutan scores 40 of 100 on a person's right to see, control and share their own health record: rank 96= of 196 countries (likely range 70 to 123), in the Weak band (25 to 44). Who holds the keys: State. Source: Who Holds the Record, SuperTruth, data as of 2026-10-01.
Bhutan runs one national electronic record across 300 health facilities, but patients have no statutory right to a copy and no data protection regulator.
Published · updated · data as of 2026-10-01 · research tool, not legal advice
Can I get my health records in Bhutan?
Access to the full record scores 33 of 100 in Bhutan, against a median of 43 across 196 countries. No statute gives patients a right to a copy of their record; the right rests on a 2022 ministry manual, and copies are at the patient's expense. The ePIS app shows visit history, diagnoses and prescriptions, which keeps the score near the top of the band.
Can I control who sees my health record in Bhutan?
Control and consent scores 30 of 100 in Bhutan, against a median of 30 across 196 countries. Records sit in one government system with no opt-out and no patient-visible access log that we could find. Rules require written consent before release outside care, and the 2025 healthcare rules make unauthorised disclosure an offence.
Eight rights, against Philippines, Bangladesh, Maldives and the EU
| Patient access to the full record20% | 33 | 40 · 35 · 45 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patient control and consent20% | 30 | 40 · 42 · 30 | |
| Privacy and security15% | 38 | 45 · 42 · 40 | |
| Connected care journey15% | 58 | 32 · 33 · 40 | |
| Protection from commercial use10% | 38 | 45 · 35 · 38 | |
| Clinician access at the point of care10% | 50 | 27 · 28 · 28 | |
| Research and trial consent5% | 49 | 46 · 46 · 50 | |
| Clinical AI governance5% | 40 | 42 · 50 · 28 |
Black dot: Bhutan. Hollow dots: Philippines, Bangladesh, Maldives (scores on the right, same order). Grey line: median of all 196 countries. Dashed teal line: EU median. Overall: Bhutan 40, EU median 61. Scores move in steps of about 5; read the rank with its likely range.
What would Bhutan need to change to score higher?
Bhutan 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 (33, median 43) and privacy and security (38, 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 Bhutan?
- Constitution of the Kingdom of Bhutan (2008): Article 7(19) protects privacy; Article 9(21) promises free access to basic public health services.
- Information, Communications and Media Act of Bhutan (2018): Medical records are sensitive data; written permission needed to collect or disclose; compensation and misdemeanour penalties.
- Healthcare Services Rules and Regulations 2025 (2025): Allows a mandatory central health record system; makes unconsented disclosure of patient information an offence.
Strain and split context, not scored
- Doctors per 10,000
- 5.5 2022
- Nurses and midwives per 10,000
- 20.5 2022
- Private insurance + out-of-pocket
- 25.6% 2023
- Record reaches private care?
- unknown
Published stories
- none published in the last two years
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