Who Holds the Record · country brief · data as of 2026-10-01Who holds the health record in Suriname?
In 2026, Suriname 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: Institutional. Source: Who Holds the Record, SuperTruth, data as of 2026-10-01.
Since May 2025 the Civil Code gives Surinamese patients a right to a copy of their file, but no data protection law or regulator exists.
Published · updated · data as of 2026-10-01 · research tool, not legal advice
Can I get my health records in Suriname?
Access to the full record scores 40 of 100 in Suriname, against a median of 43 across 196 countries. Article 7:456 of the Civil Code, in force since 1 May 2025, gives a right to inspect and copy the medical file, with no fixed deadline and a fee allowed for copies. The My Health app shows part of the record for patients of about 63 listed GPs.
Can I control who sees my health record in Suriname?
Control and consent scores 35 of 100 in Suriname, against a median of 30 across 196 countries. The Civil Code bars providers from sharing the file outside the treating team without consent, and patients can demand its destruction. With no opt-out from sharing and no patient access log, this sits at the top of the 20 to 35 band, like NRU and MCO.
Eight rights, against Antigua and Barbuda, Paraguay, Belize and the EU
| Patient access to the full record20% | 40 | 35 · 33 · 25 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patient control and consent20% | 35 | 30 · 27 · 25 | |
| Privacy and security15% | 30 | 42 · 35 · 30 | |
| Connected care journey15% | 30 | 28 · 40 · 55 | |
| Protection from commercial use10% | 30 | 42 · 30 · 25 | |
| Clinician access at the point of care10% | 25 | 25 · 33 · 55 | |
| Research and trial consent5% | 46 | 43 · 46 · 43 | |
| Clinical AI governance5% | 20 | 20 · 30 · 20 |
Black dot: Suriname. Hollow dots: Antigua and Barbuda, Paraguay, Belize (scores on the right, same order). Grey line: median of all 196 countries. Dashed teal line: EU median. Overall: Suriname 33, EU median 61. Scores move in steps of about 5; read the rank with its likely range.
What would Suriname need to change to score higher?
Suriname sits in Weak (25 to 44); Mixed starts at 45. The two rights furthest below the 196-country median, weighted, are privacy and security (30, median 45) and protection from commercial use (30, median 45). The published rubric reads:
- Privacy and security: Health-sector enforcement on the record: an independent regulator deciding health-data cases, breach notification and penalties applied.
- Protection from commercial use: Clear limits on selling health data or using it for marketing, covering apps and data brokers as well as providers.
Which laws give health record rights in Suriname?
- Grondwet van de Republiek Suriname, artikel 17 (1987): Right to respect for private life, family, home, honour and good name.
- Burgerlijk Wetboek Boek 7, afdeling geneeskundige behandeling (S.B. 2024 no. 164) (2024): In force 1 May 2025: patient file, copy right, destruction on request, consent before disclosure, research exception.
- Ontwerpwet Bescherming Privacy en Persoonsgegevens (draft) (undated): Pending bill: health data special category, 72-hour breach notice, independent Commissioner, fines.
Strain and split context, not scored
- Doctors per 10,000
- 13.1 2024
- Nurses and midwives per 10,000
- 18.4 2024
- Private insurance + out-of-pocket
- 24.5% 2023
- Record reaches private care?
- unknown
Compulsory private insurance, counted separately: 7.9% of health spending (2023).
Published stories
- none published in the last two years
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