Cyberattack against a hospital: "the health of the French will not be taken hostage", assures Braun

Europe 1 with AFP 5:31 p.m., August 27, 2022

"The health of the French will not be taken hostage", assured Friday the Minister of Health, François Braun, at the hospital of Corbeil-Essonnes, victim of a cyber-attack, announcing the release of 20 million additional euros for the protection of health establishments.

"It is a particularly outrageous attack because it affects the most fragile," said the minister, thanking the "exemplary mobilization" of the staff of this hospital in the Paris suburbs.

An envelope of 25 million allocated by the State

The Sud Francilien Hospital Center (CHSF) in Corbeil-Essonnes, south-east of Paris, was the victim of a computer attack overnight from Saturday to Sunday.

A ransom demand of $10 million was demanded by the hacker(s).

"The health of the French will not be taken hostage by these criminals", reacted the Minister of Health.

"Attacks on hospitals are unfortunately far too frequent," he said.

To combat this growing phenomenon, the State announced that it would devote an envelope of 25 million euros to the cybersecurity of health establishments for 2021 and 2022. "We are strengthening this plan by 20 million, which will be used to strengthen the fight against these cyberattacks", announced François Braun.

13 children out of 500 patients had to be transferred to other structures following the attack

These 20 million will be drawn from the means released on the occasion of the Ségur of digital health (announced in July 2020), it was specified in his entourage.

“In 2021, we saw nearly one attack per week on our health establishments,” said Jean-Noël Barrot, Minister Delegate for the Digital Transition, also present on site.

“In 2022, this figure fell in the first half of 50%”.

Currently, the plan for securing establishments of vital importance "concerns 950 establishments including 150 hospitals", he also recalled.

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The 20 million euros "will almost double the number of health establishments benefiting from this security course which will immunize them against this type of attack", he said.

The aid will consist of carrying out "audits" then "providing technological and human support".

In Corbeil-Essonnes, a return to normal is not expected for "several weeks, even several months".

A total of 13 children out of 500 patients had to be transferred to other structures following the attack.