Direct Request to the Hospital/Clinic
Identify the healthcare provider: Determine which specific hospital, clinic, or doctor holds your records.
Submit a written application: Your request must be in writing (email or post is generally acceptable, some providers may have specific online forms) to the hospital's administration or Medical Records Department.
Provide necessary information: Include your full name, address, date of birth, date(s) of treatment, and a photocopy of a government ID (like a passport or driver's license). If you want someone else to collect the records, you must provide written consent and their identification as well.
Specify the desired records: Clearly state that you require a copy of your medical records and specify whether you want all or just a part (e.g., specific test results, operation notes, or the discharge summary).
Indicate preferred format: You can request the records in a specific way, such as by email, on a USB drive, or as paper copies. The hospital should try to accommodate a reasonable request.
Pay any necessary fees: The hospital may charge a reasonable processing or copying fee, but the charge should not be excessive. Discharge summaries, however, must be provided free of charge.
Follow up: Hospitals are generally required to issue copies of records to patients or their authorized attendants within 72 hours of a proper request. A reasonable timeframe for a full medical report might be 4-6 weeks, especially if a doctor needs to review the file. |
