Health information systems are most effective when data flow seamlessly between the actors that generate, use and benefit from them. The wider use of high-quality, interoperable data underpins new digital health services and applications, making information easier to understand and usable across different settings and users (OECD, 2021[1]). In the 2025 OECD Health at a Glance Latin America Survey of Quality-of-Care Policies, countries were asked whether selected types of health data are available to national or subnational authorities, whether they are managed through electronic health record (EHR) systems, and whether patients can access their own data. The results show that, while many countries have established digital systems and use data for governance, quality assessment or performance purposes, patient access does not always follow.
Hospital data are available to national or subnational authorities in all participating countries, although in Argentina, Grenada and Colombia availability is limited to subnational authorities. Most countries report some form of EHR use; however, coverage varies. In Peru, EHR systems have nation-wide coverage, including across levels of care, with integration across parallel systems; while in Colombia they operate primarily at the level of individual institutions rather than as integrated national systems. Patient access remains very limited: only Costa Rica and Peru provides widespread digital access to data for patients in all levels of care, while others mainly provide access in physical form upon request.
Primary care data are generally available to public authorities across participating countries, though the level of centralisation varies. In Paraguay, information is compiled at the level of health regions rather than nationally. Several countries report nationwide administrative use of primary care data, including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica and Mexico. However, digital infrastructure remains uneven. In Colombia, EHR use in primary care was largely confined to Bogotá but has gradually expanded to other regions, improving interoperability. Resolution in 2025 establishes its mandatory implementation for providers. In Grenada it is available only in selected public clinics. In some countries, EHR systems operate in parallel across providers without full interoperability. This is the case for all Caribbean countries with available data. Despite the growing use of primary care data for governance and service monitoring, capacity for patient access remains limited.
Prescription medicines data show comparatively larger gaps. While a majority of countries report that authorities have access to prescribing data and that these are at least partly managed electronically, fewer countries integrate this information nationally with other levels of care or provide patients with direct access to their medication information. This represents a missed opportunity. Digital prescribing data can support pharmacovigilance, monitoring of antimicrobial use and cost control. When shared with patients, they can also reduce medication errors, improve adherence and facilitate safer transitions of care between settings.
Where hospital and primary care data are already digitally captured and used for governance and performance monitoring, extending secure digital access to patients would strengthen care continuity, support shared decision making and improve accountability. Current gaps in patient access weaken information continuity between authorities, providers and patients – particularly for people with chronic conditions. Strengthening this continuity remains an important opportunity to improve quality, efficiency and person-centred care.