Who Holds the Record · country brief · data as of 2026-10-01Who holds the health record in Sao Tome and Principe?
In 2026, Sao Tome and Principe scores 32 of 100 on a person's right to see, control and share their own health record: rank 149= of 196 countries (likely range 113 to 172), in the Weak band (25 to 44). Who holds the keys: Institutional. Source: Who Holds the Record, SuperTruth, data as of 2026-10-01.
Sao Tome and Principe has a 2016 data law and an elected regulator, but clinical records are still kept mostly on paper.
Published · updated · data as of 2026-10-01 · research tool, not legal advice
Can I get my health records in Sao Tome and Principe?
Access to the full record scores 35 of 100 in Sao Tome and Principe, against a median of 43 across 196 countries. The 2016 data law gives a right to obtain your data in intelligible form without excessive delay or cost, but health data must be seen through a doctor you choose. There is no patient portal, and records are mostly on paper.
Can I control who sees my health record in Sao Tome and Principe?
Control and consent scores 28 of 100 in Sao Tome and Principe, against a median of 30 across 196 countries. Health data may be used for care without consent if a professional bound by secrecy handles it and the regulator is notified. There is no shared record, so patients have no sharing setting, opt-out or access log.
Eight rights, against Comoros, Equatorial Guinea, Central African Republic and the EU
| Patient access to the full record20% | 35 | 35 · 40 · 40 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patient control and consent20% | 28 | 28 · 28 · 28 | |
| Privacy and security15% | 45 | 45 · 45 · 45 | |
| Connected care journey15% | 22 | 25 · 18 · 20 | |
| Protection from commercial use10% | 43 | 40 · 40 · 42 | |
| Clinician access at the point of care10% | 17 | 15 · 15 · 15 | |
| Research and trial consent5% | 45 | 49 · 49 · 49 | |
| Clinical AI governance5% | 18 | 20 · 18 · 20 |
Black dot: Sao Tome and Principe. Hollow dots: Comoros, Equatorial Guinea, Central African Republic (scores on the right, same order). Grey line: median of all 196 countries. Dashed teal line: EU median. Overall: Sao Tome and Principe 32, EU median 61. Scores move in steps of about 5; read the rank with its likely range.
What would Sao Tome and Principe need to change to score higher?
Sao Tome and Principe sits in Weak (25 to 44); Mixed starts at 45. The two rights furthest below the 196-country median, weighted, are connected care journey (22, median 38) and clinician access at the point of care (17, median 34). The published rubric reads:
- Connected care journey: Primary care, hospitals, labs, pharmacy, claims and public health linked to one record and used at national scale.
- Clinician access at the point of care: Treating clinicians able to see the full record across providers, under consent and emergency rules.
Which laws give health record rights in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Lei 03/2016, Protecção de Dados Pessoais (2016): Health data is sensitive; access copy via a chosen doctor for health data; ANPDP notification; fines and crimes.
- Lei 07/2017, Organisation and Functioning of the ANPDP (2017): ANPDP is independent, with three members elected by two-thirds of deputies for five-year terms.
- Lei 09/2018, Lei Base de Saúde (2018): Users' right to confidentiality and information; confidential flow of clinical information; consent for drug trials.
Strain and split context, not scored
- Doctors per 10,000
- 4.6 2022
- Nurses and midwives per 10,000
- 21.6 2022
- Private insurance + out-of-pocket
- 16.8% 2023
- Record reaches private care?
- unknown
Published stories
- 2026-07-11 · Rádio Somos Todos Primos (RSTP) Evacuated patient says official file wrongly lists a state subsidy she never received
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