Who Holds the Record · country brief · data as of 2026-10-01Who holds the health record in Nepal?
In 2026, Nepal scores 31 of 100 on a person's right to see, control and share their own health record: rank 157= of 196 countries (likely range 118 to 174), in the Weak band (25 to 44). Who holds the keys: Institutional. Source: Who Holds the Record, SuperTruth, data as of 2026-10-01.
Nepal makes consent the rule for health data, but patients cannot get a copy of their full record and each hospital keeps its own files.
Published · updated · data as of 2026-10-01 · research tool, not legal advice
Can I get my health records in Nepal?
Access to the full record scores 28 of 100 in Nepal, against a median of 43 across 196 countries. We found no Nepali law that gives patients a right to a copy of their whole medical record. The Constitution and the Public Health Service Act give a right to be told about one's condition, and admitted patients get a discharge summary.
Can I control who sees my health record in Nepal?
Control and consent scores 30 of 100 in Nepal, against a median of 30 across 196 countries. The Privacy Act requires consent before anyone shares health examination details, but treatment, criminal investigations and national security are exempt. Patients have no opt-out tool and no way to see who opened their record.
Eight rights, against Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Laos and the EU
| Patient access to the full record20% | 28 | 30 · 40 · 25 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patient control and consent20% | 30 | 25 · 28 · 28 | |
| Privacy and security15% | 35 | 35 · 30 · 35 | |
| Connected care journey15% | 28 | 35 · 30 · 26 | |
| Protection from commercial use10% | 38 | 35 · 35 · 35 | |
| Clinician access at the point of care10% | 25 | 30 · 25 · 20 | |
| Research and trial consent5% | 50 | 43 · 46 · 45 | |
| Clinical AI governance5% | 25 | 30 · 28 · 35 |
Black dot: Nepal. Hollow dots: Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Laos (scores on the right, same order). Grey line: median of all 196 countries. Dashed teal line: EU median. Overall: Nepal 31, EU median 61. Scores move in steps of about 5; read the rank with its likely range.
What would Nepal need to change to score higher?
Nepal 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 privacy and security (35, 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.
- 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 Nepal?
- Constitution of Nepal 2015, Articles 28 and 35 (2015): Right to privacy of records and data; right to be informed about one's health condition.
- The Privacy Act, 2075 (2018) (2018): Consent to share health details; health is sensitive data; up to 3 years or NPR 30,000.
- The Public Health Service Act, 2075 (2018) (2018): Informed consent, confidentiality, discharge summaries and record keeping by health institutions.
Strain and split context, not scored
- Doctors per 10,000
- 10.9 2024
- Nurses and midwives per 10,000
- 41.6 2024
- Private insurance + out-of-pocket
- 60.6% 2023
- Record reaches private care?
- unknown
Published stories
- 2026-07-01 · Naya Patrika Insurance claims filed in a patient's name for care that never took place
- 2026-03-23 · The Kathmandu Post Hospital operators charged with faking visitors' medical records in insurance scheme
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