[tim333]

The question can make sense in any country really. Even if you are some place like Spain say which I gather has a sane electronic records system you still have issues if you get treated by someone outside the system, say in another country.

The UK's system, where I'm from is famously a mess. I think we hit a record with "£12bn NHS computer system is scrapped..." My aunts doctor has a GP system and the local hospital has another and when she collapsed and was treated in the hospital the doctor can't see the records as different systems. I guess unless they print it out and shlep it over somehow.