Katholische Hospitalvereinigung Ostwestfalen (KHO), a German hospital network, has confirmed that a cyber incident that disrupted its hospital network.
The attack was later confirmed by the Lockbit ransomware group. In total, the gang is responsible for disruption at three hospitals in its network.
The attack occurred on December 24, 2023, and it drastically impacted the systems that supported the operations of three hospitals in Bielefeld, Rheda-Wiedenbrück, and Herford, Germany
The threat actors encrypted data,and the investigations are underway, and the extent of the damage can not be determined yet.
The following hospitals operated by KHO have been impacted by the cyberattack:
- Franziskus Hospital Bielefeld
- Sankt Vinzenz Hospital Rheda-Wiedenbrück
- Mathilden Hospital Herford
This attack to be a catastrophic effect on patients experiencing medical emergencies because these hospitals are essential to the provision of healthcare services in their respective communities.
As per the statement, patient care in the affected hospitals carries on as usual, and all clinic operations are still accessible despite minor technological setbacks. The successful restoration of backups preserves access to crucial patient data.
The emergency care unit however is unavailable in all three targeted KHO hospitals, so people needing urgent medical care are diverted towards other hospitals, possibly resulting in critical delays.
