Who Holds the Record · country brief · data as of 2026-10-01Who holds the health record in Namibia?
In 2026, Namibia scores 26 of 100 on a person's right to see, control and share their own health record: rank 175= of 196 countries (likely range 155 to 190), in the Weak band (25 to 44). Who holds the keys: Institutional. Source: Who Holds the Record, SuperTruth, data as of 2026-10-01.
Namibia has no data protection law in force and no shared patient record, so patients rely on a charter, ethics rules and the Constitution.
Published · updated · data as of 2026-10-01 · research tool, not legal advice
Can I get my health records in Namibia?
Access to the full record scores 28 of 100 in Namibia, against a median of 43 across 196 countries. The Ministry's Patient Charter promises you can obtain and inspect a copy of your health information, but no law in force gives an enforceable right. The 2022 Access to Information Act is still not in force.
Can I control who sees my health record in Namibia?
Control and consent scores 25 of 100 in Namibia, against a median of 30 across 196 countries. The Patient Charter says health information will not be disclosed without consent, but no law gives patients sharing choices, an opt-out or an access log. Facilities hold the record and decide how it is used.
Eight rights, against Liberia, Sierra Leone, South Sudan and the EU
| Patient access to the full record20% | 28 | 28 · 32 · 34 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patient control and consent20% | 25 | 25 · 25 · 24 | |
| Privacy and security15% | 28 | 32 · 28 · 22 | |
| Connected care journey15% | 25 | 22 · 24 · 20 | |
| Protection from commercial use10% | 18 | 25 · 22 · 20 | |
| Clinician access at the point of care10% | 22 | 15 · 17 · 18 | |
| Research and trial consent5% | 43 | 46 · 46 · 43 | |
| Clinical AI governance5% | 20 | 25 · 22 · 20 |
Black dot: Namibia. Hollow dots: Liberia, Sierra Leone, South Sudan (scores on the right, same order). Grey line: median of all 196 countries. Dashed teal line: EU median. Overall: Namibia 26, EU median 61. Scores move in steps of about 5; read the rank with its likely range.
What would Namibia need to change to score higher?
Namibia sits in Weak (25 to 44); Mixed starts at 45. The two rights furthest below the 196-country median, weighted, are patient access to the full record (28, median 43) and protection from commercial use (18, median 45). The published rubric reads:
- 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.
- Protection from commercial use: Clear limits on selling health data or using it for marketing, covering apps and data brokers as well as providers.
Which laws give health record rights in Namibia?
- Namibian Constitution, Article 13 (1990): Protects privacy of homes, correspondence and communications, with lawful exceptions including for health.
- Public and Environmental Health Act 1 of 2015 (2015): Disease notification; STI status confidentiality with N$50,000 fine; emergency powers to collect and disclose personal information.
- Access to Information Act 8 of 2022 (2022): Right to information held by public entities, including state hospitals; not yet in force.
Strain and split context, not scored
- Doctors per 10,000
- 5.6 2024
- Nurses and midwives per 10,000
- 38.0 2024
- Private insurance + out-of-pocket
- 44.1% 2023
- Record reaches private care?
- unknown
Published stories
- 2026-03-19 · The Namibian State hospital admits patient files sat on floors and old beds
- 2024-12-17 · The Namibian Health ministry confirms hackers breached one of its medicine data systems
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