Your medical records document your diagnoses, treatments, test results, medicines and immunisations. Being able to view and request copies helps you understand your care, get second opinions, move between providers and stay informed. Singapore has both a national record-sharing system for clinicians — the National Electronic Health Record (NEHR) — and a patient-facing portal, HealthHub, plus your data-access rights under the Personal Data Protection Act. This guide explains what each is, how to see your records, and how to request full copies from a hospital or clinic.
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In a medical emergency, or for severe or sudden symptoms such as breathing difficulty, chest pain, fainting or stroke signs, call 995 immediately.
This is general information, not legal advice; some access exceptions apply, and features of national systems change — check current details with the provider, HealthHub or the PDPC. Do not rely on retrieving records during a medical emergency — for chest pain, stroke signs, severe breathlessness or collapse, call 995 or go to the nearest A&E.
Who holds your records
Your records are created and kept by the institution that treated you — a hospital, polyclinic, GP or specialist clinic. The record itself belongs to the institution, but under the Personal Data Protection Act you have the right to request access to, and a copy of, the personal data it holds about you. Understanding this distinction — the institution holds the record, but you can access your data — is the foundation for everything else in this guide.
The National Electronic Health Record (NEHR)
The NEHR is a national system that collects and stores a copy of selected key health information so that authorised clinicians across different institutions can see a summary of your care — for example allergies, laboratory results, medication history and discharge summaries. It is owned by MOH and operated by Synapxe, Singapore’s national health-technology agency. It is a clinician-facing coordination tool, not a full copy of every note, and public healthcare institutions have contributed to it for years while private providers are progressively coming on board. For the current scope and any consent arrangements, check MOH or Synapxe, as these have evolved.
HealthHub — the patient portal
HealthHub is Singapore’s national patient-facing digital health platform, an MOH initiative developed and managed by Synapxe. Logging in with Singpass lets you view certain records — such as laboratory and test reports, appointments across public healthcare, and immunisation records — and lets you book appointments, pay bills and request medication refills. The exact features available change over time, so check what is currently offered in the app or on the website. Where caregiver or child-access features apply, you may be able to view a family member’s records too.
NEHR and HealthHub are not the same
It is easy to confuse the two. The NEHR is the back-end summary record that clinicians use to coordinate your care across institutions. HealthHub is the front-end app where you view some of your own records and manage appointments. They are related national systems in the MOH and Synapxe ecosystem, but they serve different users — clinicians on one side, you on the other — which is why what a doctor sees in the NEHR is not identical to what you see in HealthHub.
Requesting copies from a hospital or clinic
For a full or specific record — detailed reports, imaging, doctors’ notes, or records not shown in HealthHub — submit a request directly to the institution, usually through its medical records or health information office or a request form. You will typically verify your identity, specify exactly which records and date range you need, and state the purpose, such as a referral, a second opinion or an insurance claim. There may be a processing fee and a turnaround time; these vary by institution, so ask when you submit the request. If you are requesting on someone else’s behalf, you will need proper consent or legal authority.
Your data-protection rights
Your health data is personal data protected under the Personal Data Protection Act, administered by the Personal Data Protection Commission. The PDPA gives individuals rights to request access to and correction of their personal data held by organisations, and requires organisations to protect it. This is general information rather than legal advice, and some exceptions to access exist, so if access is refused or disputed, the PDPC is the body to refer to for the authoritative position.
Records for referrals, second opinions and good habits
When you switch doctors or seek a second opinion, ask for a referral letter and the relevant records — test results, imaging and discharge summaries. While the NEHR lets a treating clinician see your summary automatically, for a complete picture, especially across private providers or from overseas, it is best to request copies yourself and bring them. As a good habit, download reports from HealthHub, keep a personal folder of key results, your medication list and allergies, and update it after major visits — it is invaluable in emergencies and when seeing a new provider. The reassuring bottom line is that between HealthHub, the NEHR and your PDPA rights, your health information is more accessible than many people realise, and a little organisation on your part makes it work for you when it matters.
Related healthcare navigation topics
- Preparing for a doctor’s appointment
- Understanding medical referrals
- What to expect at a specialist appointment
- Getting a second opinion
- Telemedicine in Singapore
- Public vs private healthcare
- Patient rights & responsibilities
- Caregiver support in Singapore
- Home care services
- GP clinics in Singapore
- Medical concierge & care navigation
Sources
- Synapxe — National Electronic Health Record (NEHR): synapxe.sg
- HealthHub — About us: healthhub.sg
- PDPC — Personal Data Protection Act: pdpc.gov.sg