Who Holds the Record · country brief · data as of 2026-10-02Who holds the health record in China?
In 2026, China scores 43 of 100 on a person's right to see, control and share their own health record: rank 56= of 65 countries, in the Weak band (25 to 44). Who holds the keys: State. Source: Who Holds the Record, SuperTruth, data as of 2026-10-02.
Over 9,000 public hospitals feed provincial data platforms, but patients can copy only listed parts of their chart and cannot see who looked.
Published · updated · data as of 2026-10-02 · research tool, not legal advice
Can I get my health records in China?
Access to the full record scores 35 of 100 in China, against a median of 62 across 65 countries. The Civil Code lets patients read and copy listed record types, and the 2013 rules list what hospitals may copy, leaving out progress notes, with a fee and no fixed deadline. Public health files are opening to residents county by county, a target for 2026.
Can I control who sees my health record in China?
Control and consent scores 30 of 100 in China, against a median of 52 across 65 countries. PIPL needs separate consent for health data and lets people withdraw it, but statutory duties and public health emergencies need no consent. Hospitals feed provincial platforms by default, with no national opt-out and no patient-visible access log found.
Eight rights, against India, Indonesia, Philippines and the EU
| Patient access to the full record20% | 35 | 55 · 55 · 40 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patient control and consent20% | 30 | 50 · 42 · 40 | |
| Privacy and security15% | 45 | 35 · 38 · 45 | |
| Connected care journey15% | 60 | 45 · 57 · 32 | |
| Protection from commercial use10% | 38 | 35 · 42 · 45 | |
| Clinician access at the point of care10% | 50 | 35 · 40 · 27 | |
| Research and trial consent5% | 49 | 46 · 49 · 46 | |
| Clinical AI governance5% | 62 | 55 · 56 · 42 |
Black dot: China. Hollow dots: India, Indonesia, Philippines (scores on the right, same order). Grey line: median of all 65 countries. Dashed teal line: EU median. Overall: China 43, EU median 61. Scores move in steps of about 5; gaps of 4 or less are ties.
What would China need to change to score higher?
China sits in Weak (25 to 44); Mixed starts at 45. The two rights furthest below the 65-country median, weighted, are patient access to the full record (35, median 62) and patient control and consent (30, median 52). 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.
- Patient control and consent: An opt-out or opt-in, a patient-visible access log and granular choices together put control at 60 to 80.
Which laws give health record rights in China?
- Personal Information Protection Law (2021): Health data is sensitive and needs separate consent; no consent needed for statutory duties.
- Civil Code (Articles 1034, 1225, 1226) (2020): Patients may read and copy listed records; hospitals must keep patient information confidential.
- Medical Record Management Rules for Medical Institutions (2013): Lists copyable record parts, allows a cost fee, sets 15 and 30 year retention.
Strain and split context, not scored
- Doctors per 10,000
- 28.2 2023
- Nurses and midwives per 10,000
- 39.6 2023
- Private insurance + out-of-pocket
- 39.6% 2023
- Record reaches private care?
- partial
"下一步，我们将按照“应接尽接”原则，重点攻坚民营医院和诊所数据接入，确保2026年底前完成全域数据汇聚。"
Published stories
- 2026-05-08 · Supreme People's Court of China (typical cases) Hospital booking contractor secretly copied millions of patients' details, court rules
- 2024-11-18 · Health China (健康界) Court finds hospital rewrote a patient's electronic record after discharge; hospital pays in full
Questions, corrections or a briefing: supertruth.ai/on-the-record#contact · Full index: whoholds.supertruth.ai