A Winnipeg woman has raised concerns about patients accessing their own medical records after she was charged a fee to transfer her files to a different doctor.

Ally Beauchesne’s doctor recently left the province.

"She left with no warning and when I went to call to make an appointment she was gone," said Beauchesne.

She found a new one at a different clinic but now she’s on the hook to have her records sent to her new doctor. Staff at the old office told her it would cost $25 to have the files photocopied and transferred.

"My doctor had moved away and I wasn't choosing to not see her anymore. She was kind of choosing to not see me so I think that those records are my records,” said Beauchesne.

Your medical records contain personal information about your health history.

While the information in those records belongs to you, the physical files are property of your doctor.

The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba said they can charge you to make a copy.

There are guidelines but each doctor is allowed to set their own rate.

"It can be from anywhere from $25 to even more, $250, depending how much time and how complicated the case is," said Winnipeg pediatrician Dr. Stan Lipnowski.

Even though his files are stored electronically, Dr. Lipnowski said if a patient requests a transfer, he must first personally review the patient’s medical record.

He said that can take a lot of time and the fee charged covers administrative costs.

"So, it's just a matter of the fact that somebody's got to do the work and it's not a service that's covered by Manitoba Health."

Ally Beauchesne plans on paying the fee for her file but she would like to see a system where it's easier for patients to access their records.

"They also told me that there'd be a wait. And what if you needed it quicker?" asked Beauchesne.

If you feel you're being charged too much, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba said you can file a complaint through their office and they will investigate.

Doctors are required by law to keep a copy of medical records for at least 10 years beyond their last contact with each patient they see.