Health Minister Chiu Tai-yuan (邱泰源) announced on Friday that the government is developing comprehensive guidelines to enhance hospital security following a major data breach at Taipei’s Mackay Memorial Hospital. Reports indicate that hackers allegedly stole 16.6 million patient records online after a ransomware attack on the facility.
The minister stated that various hospitals across the nation are collaborating closely with the Digital Ministry to bolster firewalls. The ministry has already created Taiwan's first "Hospital Ransomware Response Guidelines" in response to attacks targeting both Mackay Hospital and Changhua Christian Hospital by the "Crazy Hunter" ransomware group.
Mackay Memorial Hospital issued a statement on Thursday confirming that the case is under investigation by authorities and warned the public to remain vigilant against online scams related to the breach.
Meanwhile, the Health Ministry is facing criticism over recently published nursing salary data from over 400 hospitals. When questioned about claims that the figures misrepresent reality, Minister Chiu defended the statistics as “completely objective data” that was voluntarily reported to assist nursing professionals in making informed employment decisions. He acknowledged that the figures do not include salaries from clinics, nursing homes, and other care facilities.