Tufton: Hackers claim access to NHF client medical data, MOCA called in
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Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Christopher Tufton has confirmed that hackers have contacted the management of the National Health Fund (NHF) claiming to be in possession of medical information belonging to some clients.
The disclosure came at Wednesday’s post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House, where Tufton indicated that the health ministry is aware of information circulating in the public domain about a breach of the NHF database.
“There has been some communication from some deviant around this breach. So the NHF has confirmed receipt of a threat from a hacker group claiming to have access to some of the data. It's not yet confirmed. Even though they have indicated some of the data that they say they have, it's not yet confirmed,” Tufton told journalists.
However, he said enough evidence had been gathered to require the NHF to report the incident to the Office of the Information Commissioner.
He said the NHF team has also contacted the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA) to update it on the situation and to provide support to the relevant agencies conducting the investigation.
“Just to assure the public that the immediate steps have been taken to reinforce security protocols, and hardening of the organisation’s security posture is ongoing,” he said.
He disclosed that the data allegedly in the hacker group's possession relates to “medication and, you know, maybe who benefits from what type of medication”.
“It's confidential data. We don't reveal our history of medication administration and, we do get attacks on a daily basis, just as the banks do and so on, but I just wanted to raise this to the public because something is being circulated in the space,” the minister said.
- Kimone Francis
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