Medical Records Request
A formal process for obtaining copies of your own health records from a provider, hospital, or clinic — a legal right in most countries.
A formal process for obtaining copies of your own health records from a provider, hospital, or clinic — a legal right in most countries.
Also known as
records release, subject access request, health records access
Why travellers need to know
Continuity of care depends on getting records from foreign providers. Without them, your home doctor may repeat tests, miss relevant findings, or prescribe unnecessarily.
Real-world example
An Irish traveller has a knee procedure in Portugal and wants to send the surgical notes to her orthopaedic surgeon back in Dublin. She requests records on discharge — the Portuguese clinic emails a PDF summary within a week, which is sufficient for her Dublin follow-up.
Country-specific notes
🇵🇹 Portugal
Portuguese patients have a statutory right to access records under GDPR
Public and private hospitals must provide records on request. English summaries are not guaranteed — bring a medical translation app or request an English summary specifically at a private hospital.
Request a discharge summary (alta médica) before leaving the hospital — it's far easier to get in person than by post weeks later.
🇮🇳 India
Indian law allows patients to obtain copies of records but timelines vary
The Clinical Establishments Act gives patients the right to copies of records. Large private hospitals (Fortis, Apollo) have dedicated medical records departments and respond within 1–3 days.
At smaller Indian clinics, ask for a written summary at discharge rather than a formal records request — it's faster and usually sufficient for follow-up.
🇯🇵 Japan
Japan's Act on Protection of Personal Information covers medical records
Hospitals must respond to records requests within a reasonable time. However, requests at public hospitals often require Japanese paperwork. International hospitals (e.g. St. Luke's, Tokyo) handle English requests routinely.
Ask your travel insurer's assistance line to request records on your behalf if you don't speak Japanese.
Frequently asked questions
Can I request records from a hospital in another country?
Yes, and most countries give you this right under national law or GDPR-equivalent rules. Submit the request in writing, ideally in the local language. Your insurer's assistance line can help with translation and follow-up.
What should I ask for specifically?
Discharge summary, diagnosis, medications prescribed, test results, imaging reports, and any procedure notes. If you had surgery, request the operative report. Always ask for records in digital format (PDF) if possible — easier to share with your home doctor.
Store and organise foreign medical records in your Nomedic vault — searchable, shareable, always accessible.