Health Record Rights Index · country brief · this country's data as of 2026-10-01
Who 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 172= of 198 countries (likely range 144 to 187), in the Weak band (25 to 44). Who holds the keys: State. Source: Health Record Rights Index, SuperTruth, this country's data as of 2026-10-01.
The government decides, with limited individual say. No right sits above the 198-country median; the closest is research and trial consent (45, against a median of 46 across 198 countries); its weakest is protection from commercial use (22, median 45).
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 · this country's data as of 2026-10-01 · research tool, not legal advice
28overall, of 100 · Weak
172=rank of 198
Statewho holds the keys
mediumconfidence
91 · Platinumevidence grade (DTI)
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 198 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 198 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 198 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 198-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
In 2026, Timor-Leste scored 28 of 100 on a person's right to see, control and share their own health record, rank 172= of 198 countries (likely range 144 to 187) (Weak; who holds the keys: State). Source: Health Record Rights Index, SuperTruth, this country's data as of 2026-10-01, https://healthrecordrights.com/brief/TLS/
SuperTruth Inc. · 24 S. 24th St., Philadelphia, PA 19103, USA · +1 215 918 4140 · supertruth.ai Questions, corrections or a briefing: supertruth.ai/on-the-record#contact · Full index: healthrecordrights.com
OECD: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (38 mostly high-income countries). DTI: SuperTruth's Data Trust Index, grading the evidence behind each score. Everything here comes from public information: laws, government and regulator pages, court decisions, published news, WHO, OECD and World Bank data. Full sources: https://healthrecordrights.com/brief/TLS/#sources. SuperTruth built this index and sells health data verification products; no one paid to be included. Research tool, not legal advice. Text and scores CC BY 4.0.
