Who Holds the Record · country brief · data as of 2026-10-02Who holds the health record in India?
In 2026, India scores 45 of 100 on a person's right to see, control and share their own health record: rank 53= 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.
India built an opt-in consent exchange linking 110 crore records, but the records are thin and its privacy law and regulator are not yet working.
Published · updated · data as of 2026-10-02 · research tool, not legal advice
Can I get my health records in India?
Access to the full record scores 55 of 100 in India, against a median of 62 across 65 countries. A binding medical ethics regulation makes doctors issue records within 72 hours, and 96.43 crore ABHA accounts can view 110 crore linked records (August 2026). Linked records average about one per account, and the DPDP access right only gives a summary and starts in May 2027.
Can I control who sees my health record in India?
Control and consent scores 50 of 100 in India, against a median of 52 across 65 countries. ABDM shares records between providers only on the patient's revocable, time-bound consent, an opt-in choice that is live nationwide. Policy lets patients see their consents, but a log of each access was not verified, so the cell sits mid-band (40 to 55), level with Thailand.
Eight rights, against China, Indonesia, Vietnam and the EU
| Patient access to the full record20% | 55 | 35 · 55 · 60 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patient control and consent20% | 50 | 30 · 42 · 30 | |
| Privacy and security15% | 35 | 45 · 38 · 42 | |
| Connected care journey15% | 45 | 60 · 57 · 55 | |
| Protection from commercial use10% | 35 | 38 · 42 · 55 | |
| Clinician access at the point of care10% | 35 | 50 · 40 · 44 | |
| Research and trial consent5% | 46 | 49 · 49 · 50 | |
| Clinical AI governance5% | 55 | 62 · 56 · 50 |
Black dot: India. Hollow dots: China, Indonesia, Vietnam (scores on the right, same order). Grey line: median of all 65 countries. Dashed teal line: EU median. Overall: India 45, EU median 61. Scores move in steps of about 5; gaps of 4 or less are ties.
What would India need to change to score higher?
India sits in Mixed (45 to 64); Strong starts at 65. The two rights furthest below the 65-country median, weighted, are privacy and security (35, median 55) and connected care journey (45, median 62). The published rubric reads:
- Privacy and security: Health-sector enforcement on the record: an independent regulator deciding health-data cases, breach notification and penalties applied.
- Connected care journey: Primary care, hospitals, labs, pharmacy, claims and public health linked to one record and used at national scale.
Which laws give health record rights in India?
- Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (2023): General data law: consent, summary access, breach notice, Rs 250 crore penalties; main duties start May 2027.
- Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025 (2025): Notified 13 Nov 2025; consent managers from Nov 2026, most duties from May 2027; research exemption standards.
- IT (Reasonable Security Practices and Sensitive Personal Data) Rules, 2011 (2011): Medical records are sensitive data; prior permission for disclosure; binds companies until May 2027.
Strain and split context, not scored
- Doctors per 10,000
- 9.6 2024
- Nurses and midwives per 10,000
- 27.1 2024
- Private insurance + out-of-pocket
- 53.7% 2023
- Record reaches private care?
- partial
"Only ~26,000 facilities actively transact on the platform, predominantly government facilities (~21,000), while private-sector participation remains low (~4,000)."
Published stories
- 2024-10-11 · The Register Health insurer confirms illegal access to customer records offered through chatbots
- 2025-12-20 · Medical Dialogues Consumer commission orders hospital to hand over a senior citizen's discharge papers
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