UK trade association AXREM is calling for a holistic national cybersecurity strategy for healthcare that includes government collaboration, partnerships with the private sector, and campaigns to increase public awareness.
AXREM, which represents the interests of suppliers of diagnostic medical imaging, radiotherapy, healthcare IT and care equipment including patient monitoring in the UK, provide the majority of diagnostic medical imaging and radiotherapy equipment installed in UK hospitals.
The organisation has published a report which notes how the healthcare IT sector, with its complex digital infrastructure and critical service nature, stands as a prime target in the evolving cyber threat landscape, offering numerous entry points for exploitation by malicious actors.
“Never before has the threat of a cyberattack been so high, so we must all work together to ensure we assist the government and NHS in minimising the risks of an attack,” said AXREM CEO, Sally Edgington. “In the event of a cyberattack we must work together to ensure patients can continue to be treated and their personal information is protected.”
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“AXREM underscores the critical need for a robust cyber security framework to protect the UK healthcare sector against severe consequences of breaches, which go beyond financial losses to include major disruptions in patient care and possible legal issues,” noted the report.
AXREM has called for:
- A comprehensive national strategy that includes working together with the government.
- Private sector partnerships and increasing public awareness to address the cyber security challenges that healthcare organisations face.
- Implementing proactive security measures like regular updates, strict access controls, and continuous staff training.
A recent cyberattack on the NHS saw NHS England London declare a regional incident and continues to coordinate work across affected services, as well as with neighbouring providers and national partners to manage disruption.
