THE recent cyberattack unleashed on the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) continues to raise questions and uncertainty among patients who had to take blood tests again this month.
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In June, a sophisticated cyberattack was unleashed on the NHLS’s system – leaving thousands of patients ensnared in a state of uncertainty. The attack, which crippled the NHLS’s digital infrastructure, rendered countless patient records inaccessible, including crucial blood test results.
This breach has sparked concerns regarding the security of sensitive personal data entrusted to the NHLS. The incident left doctors scrambling for answers after communication between hospitals and laboratories hit an unexpected technical glitch that caused the screens to go black and rendered them unable to retrieve blood results.
Sharin Rajman, a dedicated member of the ward committee for health, safety and security in Merebank, articulated the profound impact of the attack on patients, particularly those undergoing chronic treatment.
“Patients who rely on chronic medication have been subjected to the distressing ordeal of undergoing repeat blood tests this month,” said Rajman.
“They were informed by their doctors that their previous test results had been lost due to the cyberattack on the system.
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“The incident has ignited a public outcry about the adequacy of data protection measures. It is absolutely unacceptable that patients should endure such suffering due to inadequate safeguards for their personal data,” said Rajman.
“Individuals diagnosed with chronic illnesses in June have been left waiting for their follow-up blood results. This failure not only delays necessary medical evaluations but also inflicts additional trauma on patients, who remain unaware of the full scope of the cyberattack and its implications for their health. The delay in retrieving these critical results has the potential to exacerbate their chronic conditions,” she added.
This breach has cast a glaring spotlight on the vulnerabilities in data security practices and underscored the urgent need for stringent protective measures to prevent future incidents. Rajman said the ramifications of the attack extended beyond mere inconvenience.
“They represent a fundamental failure in the responsibility to safeguard patient information and maintain the integrity of health services.”
Spokesperson for NHLS Mzi Gcukumana said some of the systems are now back online.
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