Cyberattack Forces Belgian Hospital AZ Monica to Shut Down Servers
▼ Summary
– AZ Monica hospital in Belgium shut down all servers and canceled scheduled procedures due to a cyberattack.
– The emergency department is operating at reduced capacity, with critical patient transport services offline.
– Urgent treatment continues, but non-urgent consultations are postponed as digital medical files are inaccessible.
– Seven critical patients were transferred to other hospitals, and new patient registration is slower due to paper-based systems.
– Authorities are investigating the incident, with unconfirmed reports suggesting a ransom demand, though the hospital has not specified the attack’s nature.
A major Belgian healthcare facility was forced into crisis mode after a severe cyberattack crippled its digital infrastructure. AZ Monica hospital, with campuses in Antwerp and Deurne, made the drastic decision to disconnect all servers in the early hours of the morning, leading to widespread operational disruption. This incident underscores the profound vulnerability of critical healthcare services to digital threats, where patient safety becomes directly entangled with cybersecurity.
The immediate impact was severe, forcing the cancellation of all scheduled medical procedures for the day. Hospital management promptly informed affected patients of the cancellations. While urgent treatments for existing patients continued, the facility’s emergency department shifted to operating at a significantly reduced capacity. Key emergency services, including the Mobile Urgency Group (MUG) and the Patient Interhospital Transport (PIT) unit for intensive care, were taken completely offline.
A hospital spokeswoman explained the logistical nightmare caused by the loss of digital records. Non-urgent consultations had to be postponed because staff could no longer access patients’ digital medical files. This forced a return to paper-based systems, dramatically slowing down administrative processes like patient registration. Seven patients in need of critical care were transferred to other hospitals with assistance from the Red Cross, while all other patients remained on-site receiving necessary treatment.
Authorities, including the police and public prosecutor’s office, have been notified and have launched an investigation into the breach. Hospital leadership emphasized that their primary focus remains ensuring patient safety and care continuity. They are closely monitoring the evolving situation and have promised to provide further public updates as more details become clear.
While the hospital has not officially disclosed the attack’s nature, the healthcare sector is a frequent target for ransomware gangs due to the sensitive patient data it holds. These criminals often employ double-extortion tactics, stealing data before encrypting systems to pressure victims into paying. Although unconfirmed reports from local media suggest the attackers may have issued a ransom demand, this has not been verified by the hospital or investigating authorities. The event highlights the ongoing and severe risk cyberattacks pose to essential public services.
(Source: Bleeping Computer)