Brussels Post

United in Diversity
Wednesday, Mar 12, 2025

EU to Reveal 'Action Plan' to Tackle Increasing Cyberattacks on Hospitals

EU to Reveal 'Action Plan' to Tackle Increasing Cyberattacks on Hospitals

The European Commission plans to increase funding and enhance threat intelligence to protect healthcare systems from the growing risk of cyber threats.
The European Union plans to introduce an 'action plan' to strengthen the cybersecurity of hospitals and healthcare providers, as the sector grapples with an increasing number of cyberattacks causing significant disruptions.

Set to be revealed by the European Commission on Wednesday, the plan will offer additional funding to bolster healthcare institutions' technical infrastructure, guidance on implementing existing EU cybersecurity regulations, and enhancements to information-sharing practices across the industry.

Cyberattacks on healthcare systems are becoming more frequent, with significant incidents reported in countries like Ireland, France, the UK, and Finland, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

One of the most alarming cases occurred in 2020 in Germany, where a hospital cyberattack resulted in a fatality, although charges were later dismissed.

In response, the EU aims to allocate more resources to shield the sector from future attacks, which often involve ransomware and have serious implications for patient safety and hospital finances.

EU officials, including Stavros Lambrinidis, the EU ambassador to the UN, have cautioned about the rising frequency of ransomware attacks.

Lambrinidis noted that these attacks occur every 11 seconds and may increase to every two seconds by 2031. According to ENISA, the EU's cyber agency, the median cost of a major security breach in healthcare is €300,000.

A significant issue worsening the situation is the underfunding of many healthcare institutions, often prioritizing patient care over cybersecurity, leaving IT systems vulnerable.

The lack of sufficient resources to tackle technological vulnerabilities has made hospitals attractive targets for cybercriminals.

For instance, EU-funded research has indicated that hospital staff often engage in unsafe cybersecurity practices, like sharing or writing down passwords, due to the demands of their daily tasks.

Wim Hafkamp, leader of the Dutch healthcare sector's computer emergency response team, pointed out that healthcare institutions frequently encounter a complex technological landscape, with resources typically focused on patient care, sidelining IT security.

Ireland's recent struggle with a cyberattack in May 2021, described by officials as 'very, very challenging,' further highlights the urgent need for improved cyber resilience in the sector.

To combat this, the EU is concentrating on advancing information sharing and cooperation across European healthcare systems.

By creating frameworks for the swift exchange of data on cyberattacks, the EU aims to equip healthcare institutions with the necessary tools to promptly identify threats and respond effectively.

Richard Browne, head of Ireland's cyber agency, stressed the importance of coordinated actions, suggesting that Europe-wide initiatives, like the EU’s cyber crisis liaison network, could serve as examples for healthcare-specific cybersecurity programs.

With healthcare increasingly targeted by cybercriminals, the European Commission’s action plan is regarded as a crucial step in reinforcing the sector against future threats.

By offering funding, guidance, and improved collaboration across EU member states, the plan seeks to cultivate a safer and more resilient healthcare system capable of withstanding the rising wave of cyber threats.
AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Romania Disqualifies Top Presidential Contender Călin Georgescu from Election Rerun
Russia Sends British Diplomats Packing as Tensions Rise
Radioactive coolant leak detected at the largest nuclear reactor in Europe.
Trump Administration Launches Self-Deportation App for Undocumented Immigrants
Russian Teacher Under Investigation After Explicit Content Incident in Classroom
Former security adviser cautions that UK troop presence in Ukraine may last for years.
Trump Administration Unveils Gold Card Visa Initiative That Exempts Foreign Assets from US Taxes
Trump Sees Negotiating with Russia as Less Challenging than with Ukraine Amid Ongoing Conflict
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Stresses the Importance of the US in Attaining Peace
Google Eliminates Women's History Month and Various Cultural Celebrations from Calendar App
Trinity College Dublin Honors Eavan Boland by Naming a Building After Her, Achieving a Historic Milestone.
Former UK Ambassador Cautions About a Significant Change in US-UK Relations
UK Government Confirms Prohibition on Issuing New North Sea Drilling Licences as Part of Shift Towards Clean Energy
Macron Cautions Against Growing Russian Aggression as U.S. Support for Ukraine Changes
President Trump Indicates Willingness to Revive U.S.-Ukraine Relations in Light of Recent Tensions
EU Member States Endorse Gradual Rollout of Entry/Exit System
Europe Investigates the Use of Frozen Russian Assets to Aid Ukraine
Macron Calls on Europe to Bolster Defense in Light of Russian Aggression and Possible U.S. Withdrawal.
Germany Supports Looser EU Fiscal Rules to Boost Defense Expenditure
Russia Announces Completion of Passport Distribution in Occupied Ukrainian Regions
Macron Contemplates Joint Trip to Washington alongside Zelensky and the UK Prime Minister.
Swiss Legislators Aim to Embed Cash in the Constitution as Its Usage Dwindles
The UK and France are working together with Ukraine to find a solution to the conflict with Russia.
Vatican Reports Pope Francis in Stable Health.
Cross-Party Legislators Express Worry About Proposed Reductions to the UK Aid Budget
U.S. Creates Strategic Cryptocurrency Reserve, Triggering Market Boom
Here, unelected President Zelensky meets with two top American democratically elected officials who are neither stupid, nor bribed, nor blind
Microsoft Set to Phase Out Skype in May, Concentrating on Teams in Response to Evolving Communication Trends
Citigroup Unintentionally Deposits $81 Trillion into Account, Mistake Rectified in Hours
Pope Francis, hospitalized due to pneumonia, faces a respiratory crisis.
Katy Perry Set to Join an All-Female Space Team on Blue Origin Mission
DeepSeek Enhances AI Integration in Home Appliances Throughout China
US President Asserts NATO Membership for Ukraine Is Off the Table
Apple Resolves iPhone Dictation Bug That Linked 'Racist' to 'Trump'
Trump Confirms Zelensky’s Visit Amid U.S.-Ukraine Mineral Deal Talks
Trump Plans to Cut 65% of Environmental Protection Agency Staff
Proposal Introduced for $250 Bill Featuring Donald Trump
Zelensky Calls for Security Guarantees Ahead of Meeting with Trump
Trump Announces 25% Tariffs on European Imports, Citing Unfair Trade Practices
Google's AI System Exceeds the Achievements of Human Math Olympiad Gold Medalists
Germany's Electoral Outcomes: Immigrants Confront Ambiguity as Far-Right Backing Grows
Macron Stresses the Importance of Ukraine's Sovereignty During US-Russia Peace Discussions
Putin Describes Zelensky as a 'Toxic Presence' in Ukrainian Politics
The US Casts Its Vote Alongside Russia Against the UN Resolution Condemning the Invasion of Ukraine.
Unelected President Zelenskiy suggests he will step down only if the unthinkable occurs: Ukraine becomes a member of NATO.
German Election Polls Indicate a Change as Conservatives Take the Lead and the Far Right Increases Support
The Enigma of QR Codes on Munich Headstones Unveiled
Satya Nadella Recognizes Microsoft's Error in the Search Market
Research Examines Possible Connection Between COVID-19 Vaccines and Post-Vaccination Syndrome
German Conservatives Achieve Election Win Amid Landmark Advances by Far-Right AfD
×