Cybersecurity vulnerabilities threaten healthcare in Belgium
The federal health service warned that three out of four Belgian hospitals currently lack adequate cybersecurity. This warning came after a cyberattack targeted AZ Monica hospital in Antwerp, disrupting operations and prompting precautionary measures.
Small hospitals and mental health institutions are the most at risk. Only 15% of Belgian hospitals meet the required standards for digital identification and access control. Hospitals in Flanders and university hospitals generally perform better, according to authorities, but attacks on healthcare facilities are increasingly being used as a tool in the current geopolitical climate.
AZ Monica Hospital confirmed that its computer systems were attacked early Tuesday, leading to the shutdown of servers at both hospital campuses in Antwerp and Diest. All surgical procedures have been postponed, and seven patients were transferred to other hospitals. It is still unclear whether patient data was accessed.
Despite these concerns, there is a gradual improvement underway. The federal government is investing 15 million euros annually in cybersecurity for hospitals, and the SHIELD support organization continues to guide hospitals through individual action plans for the next three years.
About 30% of the planned care was able to continue on Wednesday. Some consultations and day clinics remained open, and patients were contacted directly. The hospital's website remained unavailable, and prosecutors confirmed that no ransom was demanded in the attack.