Who Holds the Record · country brief · data as of 2026-10-01Who holds the health record in Jamaica?
In 2026, Jamaica scores 37 of 100 on a person's right to see, control and share their own health record: rank 108= of 196 countries (likely range 85 to 141), in the Weak band (25 to 44). Who holds the keys: Institutional. Source: Who Holds the Record, SuperTruth, data as of 2026-10-01.
Jamaica's data law took effect in December 2023, but many public records are still paper and eCare does not yet reach every public facility.
Published · updated · data as of 2026-10-01 · research tool, not legal advice
Can I get my health records in Jamaica?
Access to the full record scores 40 of 100 in Jamaica, against a median of 43 across 196 countries. The Data Protection Act, 2020 (section 6) gives a right to a copy within 30 days, but on payment of a prescribed fee, which one ministry agency lists as J$100 per page. There is no national patient portal.
Can I control who sees my health record in Jamaica?
Control and consent scores 30 of 100 in Jamaica, against a median of 30 across 196 countries. Health data may be processed without consent when needed for medical purposes by a health professional, and no opt-out from eCare sharing or patient-visible access log was found. The patient's main levers are general rights to object and correct.
Eight rights, against Barbados, Bahamas, Chile and the EU
| Patient access to the full record20% | 40 | 45 · 45 · 45 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patient control and consent20% | 30 | 30 · 35 · 35 | |
| Privacy and security15% | 48 | 44 · 45 · 40 | |
| Connected care journey15% | 30 | 35 · 35 · 38 | |
| Protection from commercial use10% | 50 | 40 · 40 · 42 | |
| Clinician access at the point of care10% | 30 | 30 · 30 · 35 | |
| Research and trial consent5% | 46 | 43 · 46 · 50 | |
| Clinical AI governance5% | 25 | 28 · 25 · 30 |
Black dot: Jamaica. Hollow dots: Barbados, Bahamas, Chile (scores on the right, same order). Grey line: median of all 196 countries. Dashed teal line: EU median. Overall: Jamaica 37, EU median 61. Scores move in steps of about 5; read the rank with its likely range.
What would Jamaica need to change to score higher?
Jamaica sits in Weak (25 to 44); Mixed starts at 45. The two rights furthest below the 196-country median, weighted, are connected care journey (30, median 38) and patient access to the full record (40, median 43). 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.
- 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 Jamaica?
- Data Protection Act, 2020 (2020): Health data sensitive; access right; 72-hour breach reports; fines up to 4 percent of turnover; in force December 2023.
- Data Protection Regulations, 2024 (2024): Prescribed forms and fees for access requests, including Form 2 (text not opened).
- Food and Drugs Act, 1964 (1964): Basis for registration of drugs and medical devices by the Ministry of Health and Wellness.
Strain and split context, not scored
- Doctors per 10,000
- 10.2 2024
- Nurses and midwives per 10,000
- 20.9 2024
- Private insurance + out-of-pocket
- 33.1% 2023
- Record reaches private care?
- unknown
Published stories
- 2026-06-10 · The Gleaner Hackers claim to hold medication data on National Health Fund clients
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