Government investigating ransomware attack on script provider.
MediSecure, a prominent e-script provider, has been identified as the victim of a significant ransomware attack, which was disclosed by the National Cyber Security Coordinator earlier today, revealed the Australian Financial Review.
The cyber attack has compromised personal and health information, prompting the company to shut down its website and issue a statement about the breach.
As a prescription exchange service that plays a critical role in electronic prescribing and dispensing, MediSecure stated it has taken urgent steps to mitigate the impact, attributing the origin of the breach to a third-party vendor.
The company is now working closely with the Australian Digital Health Agency and the National Cyber Security Coordinator to manage the aftermath of the incident.
Meanwhile, Cyber Security Minister Clare O’Neil has been briefed, and the government has activated a National Coordination Mechanism to assist in the response.
Updates on the situation are pending, with Minister O’Neil urging against speculation to avoid undermining the ongoing efforts to support MediSecure’s response.
The incident comes after a previous significant breach in Oct 2022 when Medibank’s customer data was compromised, affecting millions.
The Australian Federal Police are also involved in addressing the current security breach.
More details in tomorrow’s issue of Pharmacy Daily.
