Who Holds the Record · country brief · data as of 2026-10-01Who holds the health record in Timor-Leste?
In 2026, Timor-Leste 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 142 to 185), in the Weak band (25 to 44). Who holds the keys: State. Source: Who Holds the Record, SuperTruth, data as of 2026-10-01.
Timor-Leste's Constitution promises access to personal data, but no data protection law is in force and a draft only went to consultation in August 2026.
Published · updated · data as of 2026-10-01 · research tool, not legal advice
Can I get my health records in Timor-Leste?
Access to the full record scores 30 of 100 in Timor-Leste, against a median of 43 across 196 countries. Article 38 of the Constitution gives citizens a right of access to personal data in computer and manual records, but the law meant to set its conditions does not exist. We found no right to a copy of a medical record and no patient portal.
Can I control who sees my health record in Timor-Leste?
Control and consent scores 28 of 100 in Timor-Leste, against a median of 30 across 196 countries. The Constitution bans computer processing of private-life data without consent, and the health law lets patients refuse care. There is no data law, no consent tool and no access log, so the Ministry of Health decides how records are used.
Eight rights, against Laos, Pakistan, Cambodia and the EU
| Patient access to the full record20% | 30 | 25 · 25 · 25 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patient control and consent20% | 28 | 28 · 25 · 25 | |
| Privacy and security15% | 30 | 35 · 28 · 30 | |
| Connected care journey15% | 28 | 26 · 24 · 22 | |
| Protection from commercial use10% | 22 | 35 · 27 · 25 | |
| Clinician access at the point of care10% | 20 | 20 · 20 · 20 | |
| Research and trial consent5% | 45 | 45 · 45 · 45 | |
| Clinical AI governance5% | 20 | 35 · 22 · 18 |
Black dot: Timor-Leste. Hollow dots: Laos, Pakistan, Cambodia (scores on the right, same order). Grey line: median of all 196 countries. Dashed teal line: EU median. Overall: Timor-Leste 28, EU median 61. Scores move in steps of about 5; read the rank with its likely range.
What would Timor-Leste need to change to score higher?
Timor-Leste 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 (30, median 43) and protection from commercial use (22, 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.
- 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 Timor-Leste?
- Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, Articles 36, 38, 57 (2002): Right of access to personal data; consent needed to process private-life data; right to health.
- Law No. 10/2004 on the Health System (2004): Users' rights to confidentiality and information; clinical information exchange between levels; trials law promised.
- Decree-Law on Private Health Units (2004): Private clinics must register all patients and keep clinical files confidential.
Strain and split context, not scored
- Doctors per 10,000
- 7.7 2023
- Nurses and midwives per 10,000
- 15.2 2023
- Private insurance + out-of-pocket
- 10.3% 2017
- Record reaches private care?
- unknown
Published stories
- 2026-03-20 · Diligente Municipal health service admits running blood tests patients are never told about
- 2026-04-25 · Diligente One in five surveyed patients say their health status was disclosed without consent
Questions, corrections or a briefing: supertruth.ai/on-the-record#contact · Full index: whoholds.supertruth.ai