Transfer Medical Records When Changing Doctors or Cities
To transfer medical records in India, you usually carry them yourself. Ask your current doctor for a referral letter and a treatment summary, collect copies of key reports and scans from labs and hospitals, then hand a one-page health summary to the new doctor at the first visit. Unlike some countries, India has no automatic doctor-to-doctor transfer, though ABHA-linked digital records are slowly changing that.
Your 30-day moving to a new city health checklist
Moving from Lucknow to Bengaluru for a new job is stressful enough. Running out of your father's heart medicine in week two, with no local cardiologist and no old ECGs, makes it worse. Planning the health side of the move takes a few hours spread over a month.
Four weeks before: talk to your doctors
Book a final appointment with each regular doctor: family physician, paediatrician, gynaecologist, any specialist.
Ask for a referral letter that summarises the diagnosis, current treatment and what to monitor.
Ask for prescriptions that cover at least one to two months, so there is no gap.
Ask the doctor whether they can recommend a colleague in your new city.
Two weeks before: collect records
• Latest blood tests, especially trends like HbA1c, thyroid, kidney and lipid values
• Scan CDs and reports for any X-ray, CT, MRI or echo in the last few years
• Discharge summaries of every hospital admission
• Children's vaccination cards and growth charts
• Dental, eye and hearing records, which people often forget
If anything is still with a hospital, use our guide on how to get medical records from hospital. Hospitals must respond within five working days under NMC rules, so don't leave it for the last week.
Moving week: carry, don't pack
Keep medicines and medical files in your hand luggage, not in the transport truck. A carton lost for ten days is a real risk. Keep one labelled folder per family member, so nothing gets mixed up. Carry insulin, inhalers and other essential medicines with you.
Moving abroad or from abroad? If you transfer medical records to or from another country, ask for reports in English and keep vaccination records with batch numbers. Carry a doctor's letter for controlled medicines like strong painkillers or sleeping pills, because customs in many countries ask for a prescription. Get key documents certified by the hospital if a foreign doctor or insurer needs them.
What to transfer medical records for, person by person
Every family member needs a slightly different file.
Who needs what
This table shows what matters most for each person in the family.
Family member | Must-carry records | Why it matters | Who to find first in the new city |
Elderly parents | Specialist letters, ECGs, echo, latest bloods, medicine list | Avoids repeat tests and drug errors | Physician or geriatrician, cardiologist if needed |
Adults with chronic illness | HbA1c and thyroid trends, last prescriptions | Doctors judge control by trend, not one value | Family physician |
Children | Vaccination card, growth chart, allergy notes | Keeps vaccine schedule on track | Paediatrician |
Pregnant women | Antenatal card, scans, blood group, test results | Safe continuity of antenatal care | Obstetrician, booked early |
Anyone with past surgery | Operation notes, implant details | Needed for future surgery or MRI safety | Surgeon only if follow-up is due |
The one-page summary: carry medical history in a minute
A new doctor has ten minutes with you. A tidy summary helps them use it well. Include: name, age, blood group, allergies, current conditions, current medicines with doses, past surgeries with years, key family history and your previous doctor's contact. Our family medical history chart guide covers the family-history part.
In simple terms: In India, records don't move on their own, so you have to take them with you. Collect the important papers from each doctor before you move. Then give your new doctor a one-page summary so they understand your history quickly. |
How to find a new doctor in a new city
Don't wait until someone falls sick. Find your core doctors in the first month.
Ways to shortlist doctors
• Ask your current doctor for a personal referral, which is often the best route
• Ask colleagues and neighbours who have lived in the city for years
• Check that the doctor is registered with the NMC or the State Medical Council
• Prefer hospitals accredited by NABH for admissions
• Note the nearest 24-hour emergency department and its route from home
The first visit with the new doctor
Bring your summary, referral letter and recent reports. When you transfer medical records this way, ask the doctor to note your history in their own files. If your employer offers health insurance, check which nearby hospitals are on the cashless network. Our guide to documents required for hospital admission explains what to keep ready for an emergency.
Medical records transfer India: going digital
Ask if your new hospital is linked with the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission. With an ABHA number, some hospitals can transfer medical records digitally, with your consent. It doesn't yet cover every clinic, so your own copies remain the backup.
Seht tip Before the move, upload every report into each person's Seht profile. Your files travel in your pocket, and the new doctor can see years of history on the first visit. |
When to see a doctor
Book a doctor in the new city quickly if any family member:
Is on regular medicines that will run out within a month
Has diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease or epilepsy needing regular review
Is pregnant or has a newborn
Has a vaccination due in the next few weeks
Develops new symptoms during or after the move, such as fever, chest pain or breathlessness
In an emergency, call 112 or 108 and go to the nearest emergency department. Keep your one-page summary handy to show the team.
FAQs
How do I transfer medical records to a new doctor in India?
In India, patients usually carry records themselves. Ask your current doctor for a referral letter and treatment summary, collect copies of key reports, scans and discharge summaries, and give the new doctor a one-page summary at your first visit. If both providers use ABHA-linked systems, records can also be shared digitally with your consent.
Can my old doctor send my records directly to the new doctor?
Some doctors will email reports or a summary if you ask, but there is no standard system for this in India. The simplest approach is to collect copies yourself. Hospitals must supply records within five working days of a written request under NMC rules, so ask well before your move date.
What medical records should I keep when moving to a new city?
Keep recent blood tests and trends, scan CDs and reports, discharge summaries, operation notes, a current medicine list, allergy details, children's vaccination cards and any specialist letters. Older routine results matter less, but keep anything related to a long-term condition, because doctors look at trends over time, not just the latest value.
How do I transfer medical records for my elderly parents?
Collect each specialist's latest letter, recent ECG and echo reports, blood test trends and a complete medicine list. Ask their doctors for a referral to a trusted colleague in your city. Carry their medicines in hand luggage, and book a physician visit within the first two weeks of the move.
How long should I keep old medical records?
Keep records of long-term conditions, surgeries, implants, allergies, hospital admissions and vaccinations for life. Routine tests from healthy years can be discarded after a few years once trends are noted. Digital copies take no space, so the safest habit is to scan everything and keep it organised by family member.
Download Seht — free on iOS and Android
With Seht, every family member's reports, prescriptions and vaccination records go with you on your phone, organised by person and date. Share them with your new doctor in a few taps on the very first visit.
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Sources and references
National Medical Commission. Registered Medical Practitioner (Professional Conduct) Regulations, 2023. https://www.nmc.org.in
National Health Authority. Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission: ABHA and Health Information Exchange. https://abdm.gov.in
National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH). Accredited hospitals directory. https://nabh.co
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Universal Immunization Programme and U-WIN. https://uwin.mohfw.gov.in
Disclaimer: This blog is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Seht helps families stay informed, but is not a substitute for professional healthcare guidance.
