Who Holds the Record · country brief · data as of 2026-10-01Who holds the health record in Iraq?
In 2026, Iraq scores 27 of 100 on a person's right to see, control and share their own health record: rank 173= of 196 countries (likely range 146 to 187), in the Weak band (25 to 44). Who holds the keys: State. Source: Who Holds the Record, SuperTruth, data as of 2026-10-01.
Iraq has no data protection law and mostly paper records; we found a legal right to a free record copy only in Kurdistan.
Published · updated · data as of 2026-10-01 · research tool, not legal advice
Can I get my health records in Iraq?
Access to the full record scores 30 of 100 in Iraq, against a median of 43 across 196 countries. Kurdistan's Law No. 4 of 2020 gives patients a free copy of their medical file, but we found no matching federal right for the rest of Iraq. The insurer's Damani platform holds an electronic file, but the patient features described are booking, covered services and remaining visits.
Can I control who sees my health record in Iraq?
Control and consent scores 25 of 100 in Iraq, against a median of 30 across 196 countries. In the state insurer's digital system, records are shared by default: a doctor who enters a Damani insurance number sees the patient's full medical history. We found no opt-out, consent choices or patient-visible access log.
Eight rights, against Palestine, Iran, Syria and the EU
| Patient access to the full record20% | 30 | 25 · 40 · 35 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patient control and consent20% | 25 | 25 · 22 · 25 | |
| Privacy and security15% | 25 | 28 · 15 · 36 | |
| Connected care journey15% | 25 | 30 · 40 · 20 | |
| Protection from commercial use10% | 25 | 30 · 30 · 42 | |
| Clinician access at the point of care10% | 28 | 28 · 30 · 18 | |
| Research and trial consent5% | 45 | 49 · 45 · 45 | |
| Clinical AI governance5% | 20 | 20 · 30 · 42 |
Black dot: Iraq. Hollow dots: Palestine, Iran, Syria (scores on the right, same order). Grey line: median of all 196 countries. Dashed teal line: EU median. Overall: Iraq 27, EU median 61. Scores move in steps of about 5; read the rank with its likely range.
What would Iraq need to change to score higher?
Iraq sits in Weak (25 to 44); Mixed starts at 45. The two rights furthest below the 196-country median, weighted, are privacy and security (25, median 45) and patient access to the full record (30, median 43). 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.
- 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.
Which laws give health record rights in Iraq?
- Constitution of the Republic of Iraq, Article 17 (2005): Gives every individual a right to personal privacy, limited by others' rights and public morals.
- Penal Code No. 111 of 1969, Articles 437 and 438 (1969): Criminalises disclosing professional secrets and publishing details of another person's private or family life.
- Health Insurance Law No. 22 of 2020 (2020): Creates the Health Insurance Authority under the health ministry, covering all Iraqis resident in Iraq.
Strain and split context, not scored
- Doctors per 10,000
- 10.6 2023
- Nurses and midwives per 10,000
- 25.7 2023
- Private insurance + out-of-pocket
- 54.0% 2010
- Record reaches private care?
- unknown
Published stories
- 2026-08-04 · Al-Mada Investigation reports trainees filming procedures on phones, with a patient's name visible
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