In a significant cybersecurity breach, over 120,000 patient files were compromised from Manage My Health (MMH), with notifications to affected individuals pending. The incident, linked to a ransomware attack, was reported to authorities on New Year's Eve. Health NZ's national director, Jason Power, indicated that MMH is expected to disclose the notification timeline by Tuesday.
Health NZ is collaborating with primary care providers through General Practice New Zealand (GPNZ) to assess the breach's implications for patients and practices. An incident management team has been formed to coordinate with various government bodies, including the National Cyber Security Centre and the Police Cyber Crime Unit. Power emphasized the necessity for all health information systems to adhere to high security standards to protect patient safety and privacy.
There has been no impact on Health NZ systems or other patient portals, according to Power. GPNZ chair Bryan Betty assured that Primary Health Organisations would support general practices, addressing concerns and queries from affected patients. MMH plans to provide ongoing updates via its website and patient app, alongside launching an 0800 number for those impacted.