Sunday, February 16, 2025

FIRST WITH SECURITY NEWS

National Health lab back up after June cyber attack

Published on

Dr Joe Phaahla, Deputy Minister of Health, announced on Wednesday 21 August that National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) operations had been restored following a cyber attack in June this year that caused significant disruptions, inhibiting the delivery of essential public health services.

Phaahla, who oversees the work of public health entities under the Department of Health, was briefed by board and executive management on the progress made to restore systems and services following the incident.

The department describes the NHLS as “the backbone of the country’s public health,” and overseas a network of laboratories, responsible for serving over 85% of South Africa’s population through its 230 laboratories, playing a critical role in clinical outcomes and patient diagnosis.

“Deputy Minister Phaahla thanks the NHLS for its swift and tireless efforts to restore its laboratories to full operating capacity following a successful and comprehensive rebuilding of its information technology systems and infrastructure because more than 70% of healthcare decisions are dependent on their services, thus restoring operations underscores its commitment to the country’s public healthcare,” reads the Department of Health statement.

The hacking incident resulted in Phaahla urging the entity to take decisive steps to fortify its information systems against future threats. Phaahla welcomed their commitment to investing in advanced cybersecurity technologies and implementing new protocols designed to enhance the security and resilience of the NHLS digital infrastructure.

“These improvements reflect its dedication to maintaining the highest service delivery standards.

“It is strengthening its systems to ensure that any future challenge is met with minimal disruption to its essential operations, allowing it to continue providing critical health services to the country with confidence and integrity,” the department added.

The department has promised to continue to support the NHLS and other public health entities to ensure they execute their mandates to effectively contribute to the public health system.

MOST READ

SITE SPONSORS

More like this

More police than border guards and soldiers protect SA borders

Border protection in South Africa is a joint responsibility shared between the Border Management...

Securing the future: Innovative technologies and strategies for border control in South Africa

South Africa’s borders have long served as a crucial gateway for commerce, tourism, and...

Zama zama underground empire still in place after Stilfontein saga

Despite massive Police operations at Stilfontein and Sabie, South Africa’s zama zama illegal mining...