Who Holds the Record · country brief · data as of 2026-10-01Who holds the health record in The Gambia?
In 2026, The Gambia scores 36 of 100 on a person's right to see, control and share their own health record: rank 114= of 196 countries (likely range 93 to 152), in the Weak band (25 to 44). Who holds the keys: Institutional. Source: Who Holds the Record, SuperTruth, data as of 2026-10-01.
The Gambia passed its first data protection law in 2025, but most patient records are still on paper and no shared record exists.
Published · updated · data as of 2026-10-01 · research tool, not legal advice
Can I get my health records in The Gambia?
Access to the full record scores 45 of 100 in The Gambia, against a median of 43 across 196 countries. The 2025 Act gives a free copy of your personal data within one month, which covers medical files. Free with a deadline adds 5 to the base of 45, but the deadline can stretch to two months and the new regulator has no enforcement record, so 45.
Can I control who sees my health record in The Gambia?
Control and consent scores 30 of 100 in The Gambia, against a median of 30 across 196 countries. Where consent is used it must be specific and can be withdrawn, but health data may be processed without consent for managing health services. With no shared record there is no opt-out setting or access log for patients to use.
Eight rights, against Cape Verde, Gabon, Morocco and the EU
| Patient access to the full record20% | 45 | 35 · 35 · 40 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patient control and consent20% | 30 | 30 · 30 · 32 | |
| Privacy and security15% | 48 | 50 · 54 · 45 | |
| Connected care journey15% | 22 | 32 · 30 · 30 | |
| Protection from commercial use10% | 48 | 45 · 46 · 42 | |
| Clinician access at the point of care10% | 18 | 28 · 25 · 26 | |
| Research and trial consent5% | 46 | 49 · 50 · 49 | |
| Clinical AI governance5% | 25 | 28 · 25 · 28 |
Black dot: The Gambia. Hollow dots: Cape Verde, Gabon, Morocco (scores on the right, same order). Grey line: median of all 196 countries. Dashed teal line: EU median. Overall: The Gambia 36, EU median 61. Scores move in steps of about 5; read the rank with its likely range.
What would The Gambia need to change to score higher?
The Gambia sits in Weak (25 to 44); Mixed starts at 45. The two rights furthest below the 196-country median, weighted, are connected care journey (22, median 38) and clinician access at the point of care (18, median 34). The published rubric reads:
- Connected care journey: Primary care, hospitals, labs, pharmacy, claims and public health linked to one record and used at national scale.
- Clinician access at the point of care: Treating clinicians able to see the full record across providers, under consent and emergency rules.
Which laws give health record rights in The Gambia?
- Personal Data Protection and Privacy Act, 2025 (2025): Special category health data, free access in one month, 72-hour breach notice, ban on selling data.
- Access to Information Act, 2021 (2021): Creates the Information Commission, which also enforces the data protection law.
- Medicines and Related Products Act, 2014 (2014): Medicines Control Agency licenses medicines and devices; trials need ethics clearance and written consent.
Strain and split context, not scored
- Doctors per 10,000
- 0.9 2023
- Nurses and midwives per 10,000
- 6.6 2023
- Private insurance + out-of-pocket
- 35.0% 2023
- Record reaches private care?
- unknown
Published stories
- none published in the last two years
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