Who holds the health record in the Netherlands?

Can I get my health records in the Netherlands?

Access to the full record scores 55 of 100 in the Netherlands, against a median of 62 across 65 countries. Dutch law gives a copy of the whole file and free electronic access, and about 93% of GPs connect to certified apps. Only 571,000 people fetched records that way in 2024, and the EU scores Dutch record access 69.35 against an 86.51 average.

Can I control who sees my health record in the Netherlands?

Control and consent scores 72 of 100 in the Netherlands, against a median of 52 across 65 countries. Under the Wabvpz a provider may share data through an exchange system only with the patient's explicit consent, and patients can see on Volgjezorg who viewed their data via the national switch point. Consent is split across several systems, and the government plans an EHDS opt-out.

What would the Netherlands need to change to score higher?

The Netherlands sits in Mixed (45 to 64); Strong starts at 65. The two rights furthest below the 65-country median, weighted, are patient access to the full record (55, median 62) and privacy and security (52, median 55). 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.
• Privacy and security: Health-sector enforcement on the record: an independent regulator deciding health-data cases, breach notification and penalties applied.

Which laws give health record rights in the Netherlands?

• Burgerlijk Wetboek Boek 7, afdeling 5 (WGBO) (1994): Right to access and copy the file, 20-year retention, secrecy, research without consent unless the patient objects.
• Wet aanvullende bepalingen verwerking persoonsgegevens in de zorg (Wabvpz) (2008): Explicit consent for electronic exchange, free electronic copies, access log on request, insurers barred.
• Wet elektronische gegevensuitwisseling in de zorg (Wegiz) (2023): Framework law making named data flows electronic and standardised, with certified software.

Strain and split context, not scored

Doctors per 10,000

38.7 2023 · OECD 18 of 38

Nurses and midwives per 10,000

112 2023 · OECD 15 of 38

Private insurance + out-of-pocket

16.1% 2023 · OECD 28 of 35

Record reaches private care?

unknown

Compulsory private insurance, counted separately: 50.5% of health spending (2023).

Published stories

• 2026-04-14 · Regionaal Tuchtcollege voor de Gezondheidszorg Amsterdam Nurse reprimanded for repeatedly opening patient files with no care reason
• 2025-02-03 · Centraal Tuchtcollege voor de Gezondheidszorg Appeal tribunal upholds complaint that a surgeon refused to hand over a medical file