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Your clinic holds secrets. Are they safe?

13 July 20263 min read·DPDPA Editorial Team

clinics-labs

Patient files, test reports, billing records — clinics hold very sensitive information.

Your clinic holds secrets. Are they safe?

Does your clinic know what it holds?

A patient tells your clinic their problem. They trust you completely. But that information — their name, phone number, test report, medicine — is now sitting in your computer, your WhatsApp, and your billing file. If something goes wrong, it is not just their health at risk. It is their privacy too. And under India's new data law, your clinic is responsible for keeping it safe.

4 things every clinic or lab owner must know

1Patient names, phone numbers, and addresses are people's information — protect them.
2Test reports and prescriptions are very sensitive — more than most other records.
3Billing files with payment details are also covered under the new data law.
4WhatsApp messages with reports or appointments count as stored information too.

What does this mean for YOUR business?

Think about your clinic or lab right now. You have patient appointment lists on your phone. You send blood test reports on WhatsApp. Your billing software has names, ages, and payment details. Your staff writes notes in a register. All of this is people's private information. Under India's new data law, you must protect it carefully. If a patient's report leaks, your clinic can face serious trouble. The law does not care if it was an accident.

Who Is Affected

Patient names, phone numbers, and addresses are people's information — protect them.
Test reports and prescriptions are very sensitive — more than most other records.
Billing files with payment details are also covered under the new data law.
WhatsApp messages with reports or appointments count as stored information too.

3 things you can do this week

List every place patient information is stored — phone, software, register, WhatsApp.

Tell staff not to share patient reports on personal WhatsApp without permission.

Check if your business is ready. Takes 3 minutes. Visit saralprivacy.com/assessment

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Disclaimer: This briefing is for educational purposes only and does not constitute formal legal advice. Consult a qualified data protection lawyer for formal legal opinions specific to your business.

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