The World Health Organisation (WHO), alongside 50 countries, issued a stark warning at the United Nations on Friday regarding the surge of ransomware attacks targeting hospitals. Ransomware—a form of cyberattack where hackers lock victims’ data and demand payment for its release—has become a growing threat to healthcare facilities worldwide, compromising critical services and patient safety.
These attacks “can be issues of life and death,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told the UN Security Council. He highlighted the increased scale and frequency of these threats, calling for international cooperation to counteract the rising cybercrime risk.
The joint statement, co-signed by countries including the US, UK, France, Germany, and South Korea, condemned nations that knowingly allow cybercriminals to operate within their borders.
US Deputy National Security Advisor Anne Neuberger specifically accused Russia of allowing ransomware groups to act with impunity. France and South Korea also pointed to North Korea as a safe haven for cyber attackers.
Russia dismissed the accusations, suggesting the Security Council focus instead on physical attacks against healthcare facilities in Gaza.