Your medical information – test reports, diagnoses, prescriptions, mental health notes – is among the most sensitive data about you. With hospitals going digital and health apps tracking everything from steps to sleep, the risk of privacy breaches has grown.

Hospitals, clinics, labs, and digital platforms are expected to protect this data with technical and organisational safeguards: secure servers, access controls, encryption, staff training, and clear policies. They should only share information with third parties when legally required or with informed consent – for example, referrals to other doctors, insurance processing, or public health reporting.

Patients should ideally know:

• Who has access to their records,
  
• How long the data will be stored,
  
• What happens if they want copies or corrections,
  
• What security measures are in place.
  

Data breaches can lead to embarrassment, discrimination, or financial fraud. That’s why many countries are moving towards strong health-data specific laws, with penalties for careless handling, unauthorised disclosure, or misuse for marketing without consent.

As users, we also need to be careful about sharing lab reports on social media, using random health apps, or leaving devices unlocked. Privacy is a partnership between law, institutions, and individuals.