Cybersecurity Now Critical To Patient Safety, WHO Warns
Princess-Ekwi Ajide
Cybersecurity has become as vital to protecting patients as the medicines and technologies used to treat them, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned, as health systems across the Eastern Mediterranean face growing digital threats.
Speaking at a webinar on cybersecurity in healthcare, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, Dr Hanan Balkhy, said cyberattacks on hospitals and health institutions are no longer just information technology issues but serious public health and health security concerns.
She noted that the rapid adoption of electronic health records, telemedicine, artificial intelligence, connected medical devices and digital surveillance systems has transformed healthcare delivery but also exposed health systems to new vulnerabilities.
According to Dr Balkhy, cyberattacks can disrupt emergency services, delay life-saving treatment, compromise sensitive patient data and erode public confidence in health institutions, particularly in countries grappling with conflict, humanitarian crises and limited resources.
She stressed that cybersecurity must become a core pillar of resilient health systems, urging governments to invest in stronger governance, workforce capacity and cross-sector collaboration.
Dr Balkhy also highlighted WHO’s partnership with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), describing it as essential for helping countries strengthen cybersecurity standards, legal frameworks and coordinated responses to cyber threats.
She expressed hope that the webinar would deepen regional cooperation, raise awareness of available resources and encourage Member States to integrate cybersecurity into health emergency preparedness and broader health system resilience.
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