Quick Read
- WHO Europe released a guide to strengthen cybersecurity and privacy in digital health systems.
- Hayk Mkrtchyan, Head of Armenia’s Cybercrime Department, is a co-author of the guide.
- The guide addresses threats like the 300+ cyberattacks on healthcare reported in 2023.
- It focuses on availability, privacy, and governance of health data protection.
- The document supports WHO Europe’s Digital Health Action Plan implementation.
Armenia Takes Part in Developing WHO Guide for Health System Cybersecurity
The World Health Organization’s Regional Office for Europe has released a cybersecurity and privacy guide tailored for digital health systems, with direct involvement from Armenia. Hayk Mkrtchyan, Head of the Cybercrime Department at Armenia’s Police, co-authored the guide, which serves as a key resource for WHO Europe’s 53 member states.
Cyberattacks Prompt Coordinated International Response
According to WHO Europe, the document was developed in response to the growing number of cyberattacks targeting healthcare infrastructures. The European Commission recorded more than 300 such incidents in 2023 alone. The guide aims to help governments and organizations develop strategies for assessing and mitigating cybersecurity and data protection risks, aligned with their specific goals and needs.
Three Pillars: Availability, Privacy, and Governance
The WHO guide provides a structured methodology centered on three core principles:
- Availability: Ensuring reliability and accessibility of digital health systems.
- Privacy: Encrypting personal and medical data and securely exchanging it in accordance with EU regulations.
- Governance: Establishing clear management frameworks to ensure data quality, patient safety, treatment efficiency, and risk control.
Supporting WHO’s Digital Health Agenda
This initiative contributes directly to the implementation of WHO Europe’s Digital Health Action Plan. By promoting standardized and effective cybersecurity frameworks, it enhances trust in digital systems and reinforces the protection of health data across the region.
Source: WHO Europe, Ministry of Internal Affairs of Armenia