A cyberattack has paralyzed the Simone Veil hospital center in Cannes (Alpes-Maritimes) since Tuesday April 16, 2024, leading to the postponement of non-urgent interventions as well as the triggering of a crisis unit.
Hospitals appear to be a prime target for cyberhackers, who see patients’ personal and confidential data as valuable bargaining chips. After the Armentières hospital in the North on February 11, 2024, it was the Simone Veil hospital center in Cannes, in the Alpes-Maritimes, which was the victim of a cyberattack this Tuesday, April 16, 2024.
The hospital confirmed this cyberattack on its X.com account, activated a crisis unit and ensured that all staff in the establishment are mobilizing to “ carry out the necessary investigations and contain this incident “.
Furthermore, interventions and consultations considered non-urgent have been postponed. A pre-declaration has been filed with the CNIL.
Non-urgent procedures postponed and care instructions given to patients
Consequently, ” the Cannes hospital has decided to postpone planned activities which are not urgent and which do not pose a risk to the patient. Consultations are also postponed until the situation returns to normal », We can read in the press release.
Despite the postponement of non-urgent activities and consultations, all other hospital care services, including emergencies, continue to operate. Hospital management has provided advice to people who may need to go to the emergency room.
It is particularly advisable to consult your doctor, who can give medical advice and direct you to an emergency service if necessary. It is also possible to find a place for care and consultations without an appointment. These locations can accommodate patients during the week, on weekends, during the day or in the evening, so as not to overload emergency services.
It is also recommended to call 15 for guidance and to find out if a visit to the emergency room is necessary. If the attending physician is not available or unreachable, or for tourists, the Cannes hospital has set up a call number in collaboration with the Pays de Lérins Professional Territorial Health Community (CPTS) for people residing in the Cannes region. This number is available on the hospital website.
Crisis unit activated and pre-declaration to the CNIL
Alongside these measures, a crisis unit was established with IT specialists and the National Information Systems Security Agency (ANSSI), “ in collaboration with the PACA regional health agency, the Alpes-Maritimes regional hospital group and the president of the medical commission of the hospital center Simone Veil ”, to minimize the impacts of the attack.
As for the hospital administration, it operates in “ degraded mode ”, according to the hospital. This means that the patient’s medical monitoring is no longer managed by computer, but recorded on paper. “ Everything must be checked », Specifies the hospital press release. Justice has been informed to conduct an investigation and determine the origin of this cyberattack.
Finally, the hospital communications department specifies that “ all staff are on alert and facing the cyberattack: health, non-medical, logistics, administrative and technical professionals are all mobilized to carry out the necessary investigations and manage this incident “.
Alongside this attack, in the same region, other establishments were also targeted by cyberattacks, including the Alpes-Maritimes department and the University of Aix-Marseille. The FO health union, contacted by France 3, revealed that hospitals in Nice were also the target of attempted cyberattacks. However, thanks to effective firewalls, they have managed to thwart hackers.
Sources: BFMTV, ARS, France 3
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