Who Holds the Record · country brief · data as of 2026-10-01Who holds the health record in Pakistan?
In 2026, Pakistan 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 154 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.
Pakistan has no data protection law, mostly paper records and no patient portal, so patients rely on doctors' ethics rules to protect records.
Published · updated · data as of 2026-10-01 · research tool, not legal advice
Can I get my health records in Pakistan?
Access to the full record scores 25 of 100 in Pakistan, against a median of 43 across 196 countries. Pakistan has no data protection law giving a right to a copy of one's record; the 2023 bill was withdrawn in a Senate committee. An older doctors' ethics code allows copies or summaries, with no deadline; the 2026 code's wording was not verified, and there is no portal.
Can I control who sees my health record in Pakistan?
Control and consent scores 25 of 100 in Pakistan, against a median of 30 across 196 countries. The only consent rule is in the doctors' ethics code: records must not be handed to anyone without the patient's consent. There is no opt-out, no access log and no digital consent tool, and providers decide in practice.
Eight rights, against Cambodia, Timor-Leste, Laos and the EU
| Patient access to the full record20% | 25 | 25 · 30 · 25 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patient control and consent20% | 25 | 25 · 28 · 28 | |
| Privacy and security15% | 28 | 30 · 30 · 35 | |
| Connected care journey15% | 24 | 22 · 28 · 26 | |
| Protection from commercial use10% | 27 | 25 · 22 · 35 | |
| Clinician access at the point of care10% | 20 | 20 · 20 · 20 | |
| Research and trial consent5% | 45 | 45 · 45 · 45 | |
| Clinical AI governance5% | 22 | 18 · 20 · 35 |
Black dot: Pakistan. Hollow dots: Cambodia, Timor-Leste, Laos (scores on the right, same order). Grey line: median of all 196 countries. Dashed teal line: EU median. Overall: Pakistan 26, EU median 61. Scores move in steps of about 5; read the rank with its likely range.
What would Pakistan need to change to score higher?
Pakistan 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 (25, median 43) and privacy and security (28, 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 Pakistan?
- Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016 (2016): Cybercrime law: unauthorised access and sale of identity information are offences; no data subject rights.
- Digital Nation Pakistan Act, 2025 (2025): Creates digital commission and authority; requires a health sectoral plan and a Data Exchange Layer.
- PMDC Code of Ethics of Practice for Medical and Dental Practitioners (undated): Patients may get copies or summaries of records; records not handed over without consent.
Strain and split context, not scored
- Doctors per 10,000
- 12.8 2024
- Nurses and midwives per 10,000
- 5.2 2024
- Private insurance + out-of-pocket
- 54.0% 2023
- Record reaches private care?
- unknown
Published stories
- 2026-03-29 · The News International Health department disciplines hospital staff after patients were filmed during care
- 2026-06-30 · The News International Families say hospitals withhold clinical summaries needed to move patients elsewhere
Questions, corrections or a briefing: supertruth.ai/on-the-record#contact · Full index: whoholds.supertruth.ai