Who Holds the Record · country brief · data as of 2026-10-01Who holds the health record in Tanzania?
In 2026, Tanzania scores 41 of 100 on a person's right to see, control and share their own health record: rank 90= of 196 countries (likely range 67 to 116), in the Weak band (25 to 44). Who holds the keys: State. Source: Who Holds the Record, SuperTruth, data as of 2026-10-01.
Electronic records now cover every referral hospital, but patients get only a description of their data and no say over sharing.
Published · updated · data as of 2026-10-01 · research tool, not legal advice
Can I get my health records in Tanzania?
Access to the full record scores 35 of 100 in Tanzania, against a median of 43 across 196 countries. Section 33 of the Personal Data Protection Act gives a right to be told what data is held and why, not clearly a copy of the record. There is no deadline for answering and no national patient portal.
Can I control who sees my health record in Tanzania?
Control and consent scores 30 of 100 in Tanzania, against a median of 30 across 196 countries. The law requires prior written consent to process health data, but it exempts processing for medical care under a health professional. Records move between referral hospitals through national systems, with no patient opt-out or access log found.
Eight rights, against Mauritius, Zambia, Malawi and the EU
| Patient access to the full record20% | 35 | 50 · 45 · 50 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patient control and consent20% | 30 | 32 · 30 · 30 | |
| Privacy and security15% | 48 | 55 · 48 · 50 | |
| Connected care journey15% | 48 | 30 · 45 · 40 | |
| Protection from commercial use10% | 45 | 45 · 45 · 42 | |
| Clinician access at the point of care10% | 40 | 30 · 40 · 30 | |
| Research and trial consent5% | 46 | 49 · 50 · 49 | |
| Clinical AI governance5% | 58 | 28 · 30 · 25 |
Black dot: Tanzania. Hollow dots: Mauritius, Zambia, Malawi (scores on the right, same order). Grey line: median of all 196 countries. Dashed teal line: EU median. Overall: Tanzania 41, EU median 61. Scores move in steps of about 5; read the rank with its likely range.
What would Tanzania need to change to score higher?
Tanzania 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 (35, median 43) and patient control and consent (30, median 30). 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.
- Patient control and consent: An opt-out or opt-in, a patient-visible access log and granular choices together put control at 60 to 80.
Which laws give health record rights in Tanzania?
- Personal Data Protection Act, 2022 (Cap. 44) (2022): Health is sensitive data; consent rules; description-level access right; breach notice to PDPC; fines to TZS 5 billion.
- Personal Data Protection (Personal Data Collection and Processing) Regulations, 2023 (2023): Registration, procedures to block, correct and erase data, transfer permits and impact assessments.
- Universal Health Insurance Act, 2023 (Act No. 13) (2023): Makes health insurance universal; TIRA regulates schemes. In force 16 August 2024 per Daily News.
Strain and split context, not scored
- Doctors per 10,000
- 1.8 2024
- Nurses and midwives per 10,000
- 2.6 2024
- Private insurance + out-of-pocket
- 28.9% 2023
- Record reaches private care?
- unknown
Published stories
- none published in the last two years
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