Who Holds the Record · country brief · data as of 2026-10-02Who holds the health record in Palestine?
In 2026, Palestine scores 28 of 100 on a person's right to see, control and share their own health record: rank 170= of 196 countries (likely range 140 to 185), in the Weak band (25 to 44). Who holds the keys: State. Source: Who Holds the Record, SuperTruth, data as of 2026-10-02.
No law we found gives Palestinian patients a copy of their record; the ministry's system runs in 15 hospitals and, it says, Gaza's was lost.
Published · updated · data as of 2026-10-02 · research tool, not legal advice
Can I get my health records in Palestine?
Access to the full record scores 25 of 100 in Palestine, against a median of 43 across 196 countries. We found no Palestinian law that gives patients a right to see or copy their file: the 2004 Public Health Law lists five patient rights, none of them access. The government Hukumati portal shows test results, insurance status and referrals only.
Can I control who sees my health record in Palestine?
Control and consent scores 25 of 100 in Palestine, against a median of 30 across 196 countries. Patients have no opt-out, no consent setting and no access log in the ministry's systems; none was found. The 2018 decree-law bars staff from revealing patient secrets, except to competent bodies in cases set by law.
Eight rights, against Iraq, Iran, Syria and the EU
| Patient access to the full record20% | 25 | 30 · 40 · 35 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patient control and consent20% | 25 | 25 · 22 · 25 | |
| Privacy and security15% | 28 | 25 · 15 · 36 | |
| Connected care journey15% | 30 | 25 · 40 · 20 | |
| Protection from commercial use10% | 30 | 25 · 30 · 42 | |
| Clinician access at the point of care10% | 28 | 28 · 30 · 18 | |
| Research and trial consent5% | 49 | 45 · 45 · 45 | |
| Clinical AI governance5% | 20 | 20 · 30 · 42 |
Black dot: Palestine. Hollow dots: Iraq, Iran, Syria (scores on the right, same order). Grey line: median of all 196 countries. Dashed teal line: EU median. Overall: Palestine 28, EU median 61. Scores move in steps of about 5; read the rank with its likely range.
What would Palestine need to change to score higher?
Palestine 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 Palestine?
- Public Health Law No. 20 of 2004 (2004): Ministry duties; Article 60 lists five patient rights: emergency care, an explanation of treatment with consent to it, consent to research, privacy and dignity, and complaints.
- Decree-Law No. 31 of 2018 on Medical and Health Protection and Safety (2018): Providers must keep a medical file; bans disclosing patient secrets except as law allows.
- Decree-Law No. 10 of 2018 on Cybercrime (2018): Article 22 bans unlawful interference in privacy and publishing private life material.
Strain and split context, not scored
- Doctors per 10,000
- unknown
- Nurses and midwives per 10,000
- unknown
- Private insurance + out-of-pocket
- 45.9% 2023
- Record reaches private care?
- unknown
Published stories
- 2025-11-11 · Al-Quds Al-Arabi Gaza officials say over 70% of three hospitals' medical archives were damaged or lost
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