“Cybersecurity”: Protecting the Health Sector from Cyber Threats Is a Priority

Al-Taj News – A delegation from the Private Hospitals Association, headed by Association President Fawzi Al-Hammouri, discussed ways to strengthen joint cooperation and develop partnerships in the field of cybersecurity during a visit to the National Cyber Security Center.

According to a statement by the center on Monday, the visit included a review of the role of the National Cyber Security Center in strengthening the national cybersecurity system, as well as discussions of the key challenges and needs related to cybersecurity in the health sector, in addition to exploring opportunities for cooperation and the exchange of expertise and knowledge between the two sides.

President of the National Cyber Security Center, Mohammad Al-Samadi, said that protecting the health sector from cyber threats is a priority given the nature of the data and systems it handles. He stressed the importance of strengthening cooperation with health sector institutions and developing partnerships that contribute to raising the level of cyber readiness and resilience and enhancing their ability to confront cyber risks and threats.

He added that the center continues to work with various vital sectors to develop an integrated national cybersecurity system through the exchange of expertise and knowledge, strengthening coordination, and raising the level of cybersecurity awareness and practices among institutions and their employees.

For his part, President of the Private Hospitals Association Fawzi Al-Hammouri said that cybersecurity has become an essential part of the health security system, in light of the rapid expansion in the use of digital systems and modern technologies in hospitals. He stressed the importance of strengthening the partnership between the Private Hospitals Association and the National Cyber Security Center in a way that contributes to supporting hospitals and enabling them to develop their cybersecurity protection capabilities.

Al-Hammouri added that the association is keen to ensure that all private hospitals in the Kingdom receive emergency cybersecurity alerts and warnings and respond to them immediately, while strengthening their readiness and ability to prevent cyber breaches and attacks, in a way that ensures that no hospital or private medical center remains outside the protection, awareness, and coordination system, contributing to protecting health infrastructure and strengthening the Kingdom’s health and national security.

The visit comes as part of efforts to strengthen coordination and cooperation with health sector institutions and support efforts aimed at raising the level of cyber readiness and resilience and protecting health systems and data, amid the growing reliance on digital technologies and systems in the sector.