Who Holds the Record · country brief · data as of 2026-10-01Who holds the health record in Syria?
In 2026, Syria scores 31 of 100 on a person's right to see, control and share their own health record: rank 157= of 196 countries (likely range 120 to 176), in the Weak band (25 to 44). Who holds the keys: State. Source: Who Holds the Record, SuperTruth, data as of 2026-10-01.
Syria's 2024 data law covers only electronic records, and the new national health portal reached five public hospitals in 2026.
Published · updated · data as of 2026-10-01 · research tool, not legal advice
Can I get my health records in Syria?
Access to the full record scores 35 of 100 in Syria, against a median of 43 across 196 countries. Law No. 12 of 2024 gives a right to obtain your personal data within 7 working days, but only electronic data, so paper hospital files fall outside it. An official portal at five public hospitals since April 2026 puts the score at the band's top.
Can I control who sees my health record in Syria?
Control and consent scores 25 of 100 in Syria, against a median of 30 across 196 countries. On paper, Law No. 12 requires written, explicit consent to process health data and lets people withdraw consent. In practice the ministry's portal privacy policy offers no sharing choices, and we found no opt-out or patient-visible access log.
Eight rights, against Iran, Egypt, Lebanon and the EU
| Patient access to the full record20% | 35 | 40 · 30 · 40 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patient control and consent20% | 25 | 22 · 25 · 40 | |
| Privacy and security15% | 36 | 15 · 36 · 32 | |
| Connected care journey15% | 20 | 40 · 35 · 25 | |
| Protection from commercial use10% | 42 | 30 · 40 · 35 | |
| Clinician access at the point of care10% | 18 | 30 · 30 · 25 | |
| Research and trial consent5% | 45 | 45 · 50 · 49 | |
| Clinical AI governance5% | 42 | 30 · 40 · 20 |
Black dot: Syria. Hollow dots: Iran, Egypt, Lebanon (scores on the right, same order). Grey line: median of all 196 countries. Dashed teal line: EU median. Overall: Syria 31, EU median 61. Scores move in steps of about 5; read the rank with its likely range.
What would Syria need to change to score higher?
Syria sits in Weak (25 to 44); Mixed starts at 45. The two rights furthest below the 196-country median, weighted, are connected care journey (20, median 38) and patient access to the full record (35, median 43). 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.
- 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.
Which laws give health record rights in Syria?
- Law No. 12 of 2024 on Personal Data Protection (2024): Health is sensitive data; access, withdrawal and breach rights; electronic data only; in force 1 January 2025.
- Constitutional Declaration of the Syrian Arab Republic, Articles 13 and 51 (2025): State protects private life; laws in force continue unless amended or repealed.
- Penal Code, Legislative Decree 148 of 1949, Article 565 (1949): Up to one year in prison for disclosing or exploiting a secret learned through one's profession.
Strain and split context, not scored
- Doctors per 10,000
- 16.3 2022
- Nurses and midwives per 10,000
- 14.3 2022
- Private insurance + out-of-pocket
- 73.3% 2023
- Record reaches private care?
- unknown
Published stories
- none published in the last two years
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