Who Holds the Record · country brief · data as of 2026-10-01Who holds the health record in Palau?
In 2026, Palau scores 33 of 100 on a person's right to see, control and share their own health record: rank 140= of 196 countries (likely range 107 to 167), in the Weak band (25 to 44). Who holds the keys: State. Source: Who Holds the Record, SuperTruth, data as of 2026-10-01.
Palau's national hospital keeps one electronic record, but patients lack a copy right or sharing choices, and a 2025 breach leaked medical data.
Published · updated · data as of 2026-10-01 · research tool, not legal advice
Can I get my health records in Palau?
Access to the full record scores 35 of 100 in Palau, against a median of 43 across 196 countries. Citizens have a constitutional right to examine any government document, and the Open Government Act sets a 10-day deadline. Whether this covers a patient's own hospital file is not verified, and the Privacy Act has no access right.
Can I control who sees my health record in Palau?
Control and consent scores 30 of 100 in Palau, against a median of 30 across 196 countries. No opt-out, granular choice or patient-visible access log was found, and the government has called the Ministry the owner of medical records. The Healthcare Fund needs written consent, valid one year, to release a member's medical information.
Eight rights, against Vanuatu, Samoa, Fiji and the EU
| Patient access to the full record20% | 35 | 45 · 25 · 35 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patient control and consent20% | 30 | 32 · 25 · 28 | |
| Privacy and security15% | 32 | 45 · 25 · 30 | |
| Connected care journey15% | 38 | 22 · 45 · 30 | |
| Protection from commercial use10% | 18 | 35 · 20 · 20 | |
| Clinician access at the point of care10% | 40 | 18 · 48 · 25 | |
| Research and trial consent5% | 49 | 46 · 43 · 43 | |
| Clinical AI governance5% | 20 | 22 · 18 · 18 |
Black dot: Palau. Hollow dots: Vanuatu, Samoa, Fiji (scores on the right, same order). Grey line: median of all 196 countries. Dashed teal line: EU median. Overall: Palau 33, EU median 61. Scores move in steps of about 5; read the rank with its likely range.
What would Palau need to change to score higher?
Palau sits in Weak (25 to 44); Mixed starts at 45. The two rights furthest below the 196-country median, weighted, are protection from commercial use (18, median 45) and privacy and security (32, median 45). The published rubric reads:
- Protection from commercial use: Clear limits on selling health data or using it for marketing, covering apps and data brokers as well as providers.
- 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 Palau?
- Constitution of the Republic of Palau, Article IV sections 4 and 12 (1981): Security of person and papers against search; citizens may examine any government document.
- Privacy Act, 6 PNCA 201-206 (not verified): National agencies must secure personal information, limit retention and reuse; no access right or regulator.
- Open Government Act, RPPL No. 9-32 (2014): Public records available within 10 days; medical files exempt where release invades privacy.
Strain and split context, not scored
- Doctors per 10,000
- 18.1 2023
- Nurses and midwives per 10,000
- 66.1 2023
- Private insurance + out-of-pocket
- 18.4% 2023
- Record reaches private care?
- unknown
Published stories
- 2025-03-06 · teiss Palau health ministry says ransomware attack exposed hospital patient records
- 2025-02-21 · Island Times Cyberattack forced Palau hospital staff to pull patient records by hand
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