Who Holds the Record · country brief · data as of 2026-10-01Who holds the health record in Panama?
In 2026, Panama scores 44 of 100 on a person's right to see, control and share their own health record: rank 75= of 196 countries (likely range 55 to 97), in the Weak band (25 to 44). Who holds the keys: Institutional. Source: Who Holds the Record, SuperTruth, data as of 2026-10-01.
Panama's laws give patients free, fast access to their data, but records stay split between the Health Ministry, the Social Security Fund and private providers.
Published · updated · data as of 2026-10-01 · research tool, not legal advice
Can I get my health records in Panama?
Access to the full record scores 50 of 100 in Panama, against a median of 43 across 196 countries. Ley 68 gives patients the right to know all information about their health, and Ley 81 makes data requests free with a 10 business day deadline. There is no national portal; the Social Security Fund shows only 12 months of lab results online.
Can I control who sees my health record in Panama?
Control and consent scores 32 of 100 in Panama, against a median of 30 across 196 countries. Ley 68 says nobody may see a person's health data without authorisation unless the law allows it, but the same law opens the record to every clinician treating the patient at that centre. No opt-out from record sharing and no patient-visible access log was found.
Eight rights, against Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and the EU
| Patient access to the full record20% | 50 | 45 · 50 · 45 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patient control and consent20% | 32 | 27 · 30 · 44 | |
| Privacy and security15% | 48 | 50 · 45 · 50 | |
| Connected care journey15% | 45 | 50 · 40 · 35 | |
| Protection from commercial use10% | 52 | 50 · 52 · 55 | |
| Clinician access at the point of care10% | 45 | 50 · 40 · 34 | |
| Research and trial consent5% | 49 | 45 · 49 · 49 | |
| Clinical AI governance5% | 35 | 35 · 45 · 56 |
Black dot: Panama. Hollow dots: Colombia, Ecuador, Peru (scores on the right, same order). Grey line: median of all 196 countries. Dashed teal line: EU median. Overall: Panama 44, EU median 61. Scores move in steps of about 5; read the rank with its likely range.
What would Panama need to change to score higher?
Panama sits in Weak (25 to 44); Mixed starts at 45. The two rights furthest below the 196-country median, weighted, are research and trial consent (49, median 46) and clinical AI governance (35, median 30). The published rubric reads:
- Research and trial consent: A general opt-out that is honoured, or dynamic or opt-in consent, with a public register of research uses: 55 to 85.
- Clinical AI governance: Device regulation of clinical AI with change control and human oversight in force, plus national rules where EU law leaves gaps.
Which laws give health record rights in Panama?
- Ley 68 de 2003 (derechos y obligaciones de los pacientes) (2003): Right to health information, confidentiality, informed consent, clinical record rules and logging of record access.
- Ley 81 de 2019 (proteccion de datos personales) (2019): Health data sensitive; express consent; access within 10 business days; ANTAI fines B/.1,000 to 10,000.
- Decreto Ejecutivo 285 de 2021 (reglamento de la Ley 81) (2021): Free exercise of data rights, easy consent withdrawal, breach notice within 72 hours.
Strain and split context, not scored
- Doctors per 10,000
- 16.3 2022
- Nurses and midwives per 10,000
- 33.5 2022
- Private insurance + out-of-pocket
- 47.3% 2023
- Record reaches private care?
- unknown
Published stories
- 2026-04-17 · La Estrella de Panamá Newspaper finds insured people's medical histories and signatures posted online after a hack
- 2026-05-06 · La Estrella de Panamá State digital agency admits security gaps as leaked medical histories circulate
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