Cybersecurity maturity in the health sector alarmingly low – Cybersecurity Authority

The Head of National Computer Emergency Response Team at the Cyber Security Authority, Mr. Stephen Cudjoe-Seshie is sounding the alarm on the vulnerability of the health sector to cyber-attacks.

He noted that, apart from banking, finance, and telecommunications, cybersecurity maturity in the healthcare sector is alarmingly low and needs significant improvement.

At Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital’s Cybersecurity Awareness Week symposium, Mr. Cudjoe-Seshie, emphasized the urgent need to strengthen measures to avert cyber-attacks on the health sector.

The initiative aims to educate staff on the importance of protecting patient data and maintaining the integrity of hospital services. It also sought to promote the adoption of cybersecurity measures in daily routines, mitigate human error and ensure regulatory compliance with the Data Protection Act and Cyber Security Act.

He revealed that assessments conducted by the Cyber Security Authority over the past 18 months revealed glaring loopholes in 15 healthcare entities, leaving them highly susceptible to cyber threats.

‘’Apart from the banking, finance, and telecommunications sectors, cyber security maturity in the health space is very low and needs to be enhanced significantly,” Cudjoe-Seshie noted.

He advocated for a robust collaboration among healthcare providers and sector regulators to enhance capacities for healthcare workers. Mr Cudjoe-Seshie said the Cyber Security Authority has partnered with the Ghana Health Service to develop a cyber-hygiene curriculum.

This initiative aims to equip healthcare professionals with essential knowledge on cyber hygiene practices, common threats, and data protection.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Professor Otchere Addai-Mensah, said it is their responsibility to protect patients’ data.

“It has become increasingly imperative for us all to equip ourselves to play our respective roles in protecting this space. It is in the acknowledgement of this, that the choice of securing health data in the age of misinformation, a collaborative approach to digital resilience was settled on as the main topic for experts discussing.

As health care professionals we have sacred responsibility to protect our patients’ data. It is not just about compliance with regulations, it is about safeguarding trust. Patients share their most sensitive information with us, and they deserve the assurance that their data is secured, and their privacy respected.

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