A Chinese company's plans to take over healthcare giant Healius is raising concerns in Canberra because the deal could compromise Australian Defence Force medical records, including those of elite special forces.

The Morrison government has vowed that any move to acquire the $2 billion pathology and radiology company would trigger a Foreign Investment Review Board inquiry, where the national interest would come “first and foremost”.

The ADF's prized Garrison Health Services contract was last year won by British-based international healthcare group Bupa after previously being held by Medibank Private. As part of the new deal Healius was engaged as a sub-contractor to provide imaging services for the entire Australian Defence Force.

The change meant Healius was handed years of historical data on military personnel including names, dates of birth, addresses, referral notes, pathology results, images and radiology reports.