Who Holds the Record · country brief · data as of 2026-10-01Who holds the health record in Trinidad and Tobago?
In 2026, Trinidad and Tobago scores 29 of 100 on a person's right to see, control and share their own health record: rank 164= of 196 countries (likely range 130 to 181), in the Weak band (25 to 44). Who holds the keys: Institutional. Source: Who Holds the Record, SuperTruth, data as of 2026-10-01.
Most of the 2011 Data Protection Act has never come into force, so patients rely on freedom of information requests and mostly paper hospital files.
Published · updated · data as of 2026-10-01 · research tool, not legal advice
Can I get my health records in Trinidad and Tobago?
Access to the full record scores 35 of 100 in Trinidad and Tobago, against a median of 43 across 196 countries. Public patients can get their hospital file through a Freedom of Information Act request, decided within 30 days, but copies carry a fee. Private clinics are not covered because the data protection rules for business were never brought into force, and there is no portal.
Can I control who sees my health record in Trinidad and Tobago?
Control and consent scores 25 of 100 in Trinidad and Tobago, against a median of 30 across 196 countries. The Act's rule that public bodies need consent to process health data, and may disclose medical information only with consent or a court order, is not in force. No opt-out from sharing and no patient-visible access log were found.
Eight rights, against Bolivia, Guyana, Honduras and the EU
| Patient access to the full record20% | 35 | 40 · 30 · 40 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patient control and consent20% | 25 | 28 · 25 · 30 | |
| Privacy and security15% | 28 | 25 · 30 · 28 | |
| Connected care journey15% | 30 | 25 · 35 · 25 | |
| Protection from commercial use10% | 28 | 25 · 25 · 25 | |
| Clinician access at the point of care10% | 25 | 22 · 30 · 20 | |
| Research and trial consent5% | 43 | 43 · 43 · 43 | |
| Clinical AI governance5% | 22 | 20 · 20 · 30 |
Black dot: Trinidad and Tobago. Hollow dots: Bolivia, Guyana, Honduras (scores on the right, same order). Grey line: median of all 196 countries. Dashed teal line: EU median. Overall: Trinidad and Tobago 29, EU median 61. Scores move in steps of about 5; read the rank with its likely range.
What would Trinidad and Tobago need to change to score higher?
Trinidad and Tobago sits in Weak (25 to 44); Mixed starts at 45. The two rights furthest below the 196-country median, weighted, are privacy and security (28, median 45) and protection from commercial use (28, 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 Trinidad and Tobago?
- Data Protection Act, Chap. 22:04 (Act 13 of 2011), partly proclaimed (2011): Health is sensitive data; only Part I, Commissioner provisions and a few sections are in force.
- Freedom of Information Act, Chap. 22:02 (1999): Access to documents held by public bodies, including RHAs; 30-day decision; correction of personal information.
- Freedom of Information (Fees and Charges) Regulations (2001): Sets charges for copies; inspection at the authority is free; hardship waivers possible.
Strain and split context, not scored
- Doctors per 10,000
- 41.6 2021
- Nurses and midwives per 10,000
- 41.1 2023
- Private insurance + out-of-pocket
- 51.6% 2023
- Record reaches private care?
- unknown
Published stories
- 2026-02-26 · Trinidad and Tobago Guardian Health authority tells court it cannot find parts of a patient's records
- 2026-07-30 · Trinidad and Tobago Guardian Lawyers say prison officials would not disclose a detainee's medical records
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