Who Holds the Record · country brief · data as of 2026-10-02Who holds the health record in Germany?
In 2026, Germany scores 63 of 100 on a person's right to see, control and share their own health record: rank 11= of 65 countries, in the Mixed band (45 to 64). Who holds the keys: Shared. Source: Who Holds the Record, SuperTruth, data as of 2026-10-02.
About 73 million Germans have an opt-out ePA with an access log and blocking options, but only 5.1 million have the ID to open it.
Published · updated · data as of 2026-10-02 · research tool, not legal advice
Can I get my health records in Germany?
Access to the full record scores 64 of 100 in Germany, against a median of 62 across 65 countries. Since 6 February 2026 the BGB gives a free first copy of the complete treatment record, including electronic copies, and insurers have created about 73 million ePAs. Only 5.1 million people had the GesundheitsID needed to read theirs.
Can I control who sees my health record in Germany?
Control and consent scores 66 of 100 in Germany, against a median of 52 across 65 countries. Patients can object to the whole ePA, to single uses, or to named facilities, hide documents, change access periods and read an access log. Hiding is all-or-nothing: a document cannot be hidden from one practice only.
Eight rights, against Belgium, Italy, Turkey and the EU
| Patient access to the full record20% | 64 | 68 · 68 · 74 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patient control and consent20% | 66 | 72 · 72 · 62 | |
| Privacy and security15% | 58 | 54 · 56 · 50 | |
| Connected care journey15% | 66 | 68 · 66 · 80 | |
| Protection from commercial use10% | 70 | 54 · 60 · 55 | |
| Clinician access at the point of care10% | 62 | 62 · 50 · 64 | |
| Research and trial consent5% | 50 | 49 · 50 · 44 | |
| Clinical AI governance5% | 50 | 50 · 54 · 50 |
Black dot: Germany. Hollow dots: Belgium, Italy, Turkey (scores on the right, same order). Grey line: median of all 65 countries. Dashed teal line: EU median. Overall: Germany 63, EU median 61. Scores move in steps of about 5; gaps of 4 or less are ties.
What would Germany need to change to score higher?
Germany sits in Mixed (45 to 64); Strong starts at 65. The two rights furthest below the 65-country median, weighted, are clinical AI governance (50, median 50) and research and trial consent (50, median 49). The published rubric reads:
- Clinical AI governance: Device regulation of clinical AI with change control and human oversight in force, plus national rules where EU law leaves gaps.
- Research and trial consent: A general opt-out that is honoured, or dynamic or opt-in consent, with a public register of research uses: 55 to 85.
Which laws give health record rights in Germany?
- Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch § 630g (as amended 2026) (2026): Right to inspect the complete treatment record, electronic copies, free first copy since 6 February 2026.
- SGB V ePA provisions §§ 337-363 (Digital-Gesetz) (2025): Opt-out ePA created early 2025; objections per use or provider, access log, research opt-out.
- Gesundheitsdatennutzungsgesetz (GDNG) (2024): Secrecy duty for research health data users; up to three years prison for misuse for gain.
Strain and split context, not scored
- Doctors per 10,000
- 45.9 2023 · OECD 7 of 38
- Nurses and midwives per 10,000
- 124 2023 · OECD 10 of 38
- Private insurance + out-of-pocket
- 12.4% 2023 · OECD 33 of 35
- Record reaches private care?
- partial
Compulsory private insurance, counted separately: 7.0% of health spending (2023).
"Für Vertragspraxen ist eine Institutionskarte für den Zugang zur Telematikinfrastruktur (TI) verpflichtend. Aber auch Praxen von Privatmedizinerinnen und Privatmedizinern - wie Privat(zahn)ärztinnen und Privat(zahn)ärzten oder Privatpsychotherapeutinnen und Privatpsychotherapeuten - können einen TI-Zugang erhalten."
Published stories
- 2025-05-20 · Hessian Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information (HBDI) Practices answered online reviews by publishing patients' names and record details
- 2025-05-20 · Hessian Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information (HBDI) Practice manager took patient files home where guests could read them
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