> Information for patients

Requesting or sharing your medical records with others

As a GP practice, we regularly receive requests to share our patients’ medical information. This may be a request from you (the patient), but also from institutions such as a municipality, the UWV, an insurer, or a lawyer. Because medical data is highly personal and subject to our professional confidentiality, we handle it with the utmost care. In this document, you can read how we treat requests for medical information and what you can do yourself.

View and share your data yourself: fast, secure, and affordable

We recommend that you request and share your medical data yourself as much as possible. You are entitled to free access to your medical files. You can easily view and download your medical data via our online patient portal. Here you will find, among other things, your medication overview, test results, measurements, and appointments.

Tip: By downloading the information yourself and providing it to the requesting party, you not only retain control but often save costs as well. This is because third parties often pass on the bill for requesting information to you.

Do you need your complete medical file; for example, including documents from a previous GP? Then make an appointment at your SAG health center and visit the reception desk (don’t forget to bring your ID). After verifying your identity, we will safely send the medical file to you via secure email.

Another person (than yourself) or organisation requests your data

Sometimes another party wants to request your medical file directly from us. We are very reluctant to do so. After all, your medical file contains sensitive information and often more details than the agency actually needs. Sharing your medical file entails risks:

  • You disclose information that has nothing to do with the specific question or case.
  • You lose control over what happens to your data.
  • Someone without a medical background may misunderstand your file.

Because we value your privacy, we always inform you in writing about these risks first. We only share your medical file (or part thereof) after you have given us explicit permission.

In some cases, an independent medical advisor from an institution may ask us specific written questions. We answer these questions using only factual data. There are costs associated with answering these questions (the NZa rate), which can be paid directly at the reception desk or by invoice.

Can my own GP write a medical certificate?

No, that is not permitted. Sometimes an employer, school, or agency asks for a ‘medical certificate’ (in Dutch: ‘geneeskundige verklaring’). This is a letter stating whether you are, for example, able to work, travel, or obtain housing.

National regulations of our branche organisation (KNMG) stipulate that your own GP may not give an opinion on his/her patient(s). This rule is in place to protect the bond of trust between you and your doctor; the GP is there for your medical treatment, not to approbate or approve you. Only an independent doctor (such as a medical examiner or a doctor from the UWV) may issue such a statement.

What can you do in such a case?

  • Ask the requesting party if you can fill out a form yourself.
  • Download the relevant facts (such as test results) from your patient portal and send them yourself.
  • Engage an independent doctor for the assessment.

More information:

How long does it take to process a request?

We do our best to process requests for medical information within one month. If a request is very extensive or complex, this period may be extended by a maximum of two months. We will inform you of this within the first month.