WHO/Europe will host a webinar on 18 July to discuss the critical importance of cybersecurity in the health-care sector. This is the 9th webinar in the Decoding Data and Digital Health series, which addresses digital health topics of importance to countries in the WHO European Region.
The need for cyber resilience
The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption of telemedicine, electronic health records, and other digital solutions. While these tools are improving service delivery and availability, they can also expose the health-care sector to cybersecurity risks.
Health care has become a key target for cyberattacks due to the sensitive nature of health data. According to IBM, the sector experienced the most expensive data breaches in 2023, costing approximately US$ 10.93 million, which is almost double that of the financial industry. These breaches can result in significant financial losses, compromise patient privacy, disrupt health-care services, delay treatments, and even endanger the lives of patients.
The increasing interconnectivity of health-care systems necessitates a proactive approach to cybersecurity. This includes implementing robust technical controls, comprehensive incident response plans, and fostering a culture of cybersecurity awareness among health professionals and the general public.
WHO recognizes the need to enhance cybersecurity in health care. The Regional digital health action plan for the WHO European Region 2023–2030 aims to ensure the security and privacy of health data, with a focus on awareness and privacy-enhancing technologies. As part of this work, WHO/Europe is developing a cybersecurity assessment methodology for digital health information systems.
The webinar
The 1-hour event will convene international experts to raise awareness and share practical information about the role of cybersecurity in the health-care sector. This includes tools, strategies, and best practices to defend against cyber threats, ensure regulatory compliance, and leverage emerging technologies to protect sensitive health information. The panel of experts will also explore the latest cybersecurity frameworks and guidelines specific to health care, such as NIST, ISO and GDPR. Best practices will cover areas like data encryption, access controls, network security and regular audits.
The webinar will be hosted in English and Russian. It is open to the public, including digital health developers, health and care workers, policy-makers, researchers and representatives of advocacy groups. Please use the registration link if you are interested in taking part.
The Decoding Data and Digital Health webinar series is supported by the European Commission (Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety) through the action “Supporting Member States in the WHO European Region in strengthening health information systems and boosting health data governance”.