Your health records: Canada.

A take-home sheet for people at the session. Other countries: United States · United Kingdom · Australia.

Moraph for Good · Reach

Your health records: Canada

Handout · moraph.org/commons/sessions/reach/your-health-records

In many countries you have a right to see your own health records and get a copy. This sheet sets out the steps, with the rules for where you live in the box below.

Asking for your records

Check the patient portal first; some records may already be there.
Ask the provider how they take requests: a form, email, letter or in person.
Say what you want, for which dates, and how you want it: paper, electronic or to view.
Keep a copy of your request and note the date.

What to expect

You may be asked to prove who you are.
Ask about any cost before they start.
If they refuse any part, ask for the reason in writing.

Checking and correcting

Check medicines, allergies, conditions and contact details.
Ask in writing for a correction, with a copy of the page.
If they disagree, ask for your own statement to be added.

Keeping records safe

Store copies somewhere private and think before sharing them.
Use a strong, unique password for any online account with your records.
Sign out fully on a shared or public computer.

In Canada

Which law applies. Personal health information in Canada is covered by different federal, provincial or territorial privacy laws, depending on who holds it. Many provinces have their own health information law, such as Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act and Alberta’s Health Information Act.
Start with the provider. If you have a question or concern about your health information, start by contacting the organization that holds it. Each province and territory has a privacy commissioner or ombudsperson who oversees its privacy laws.
Who to contact next. For a publicly funded hospital, contact your provincial or territorial privacy authority. For a private practitioner such as a family doctor, pharmacist or lab, it may be your provincial authority or the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada, depending on your province; the Office’s website lists which.
Where the federal private-sector law applies. Under PIPEDA you make your request in writing, and the organization must give you access at free or minimal cost within 30 days, with an extension of up to 30 more days only in specific cases. You can ask for factual errors to be corrected.

Official places to check:

Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada: www.priv.gc.ca/en/privacy-topics/health-information-genetics-biometrics/02_05_d_70_phi
Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada: www.priv.gc.ca/en/about-the-opc/what-we-do/provincial-and-territorial-collaboration/provincial-and-territorial-privacy-laws-and-oversight
Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada: www.priv.gc.ca/en/privacy-topics/accessing-personal-information/api_bus

General information, not advice about your own situation. Checked 19 October 2026. If an official source says something different, it is right. Free to copy and adapt. moraph.org/commons/sessions/reach/your-health-records