E-Health to Hide Historical Psychiatric Data in Latvia
The Latvian Health Ministry has put forward draft rules that would restrict access to historical records on patients' past psychiatric and behavioural diagnoses in the E-Health system. The move aims to reduce discrimination, with public consultation open until 13 August.
/nginx/o/2026/06/27/17745447t1h3231.jpg)
A draft regulation prepared by the Latvian Ministry of Health proposes making historical records about patients' previously diagnosed psychiatric and behavioural disorders unavailable in the E-Health system. The initiative is designed to ease potential discrimination that individuals may face due to past mental health diagnoses.
Under the proposal, medical professionals and other users of the system would no longer be able to view older entries concerning psychiatric and behavioural conditions. That would prevent such historical data from influencing future treatment decisions or shaping biased attitudes towards patients. The main goal is to avoid situations where an old diagnosis becomes an obstacle or a source of prejudice.
The draft document has been submitted for public consultation, with comments accepted until 13 August. After the consultation period, the ministry will review the submitted suggestions and decide on the next steps. The measure concerns only historical information, not the entire set of data related to mental health.
