Tufton Says NHF Probing Hacker Claim Over Jamaicans' Medical Data

Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton says the National Health Fund has been approached by hackers who claim they obtained sensitive medical details linked to some Jamaicans.

Tufton addressed the issue on Wednesday during the post-Cabinet media briefing at Jamaica House, where he said the NHF had received a threat from a hacker group while concerns were being raised about a possible intrusion into the agency's database.

According to the minister, communication has come from what he described as a deviant connected to the matter. He said the NHF has acknowledged receiving the threat, but investigators have not yet verified whether the group truly has the information it claims to possess, even though it has pointed to some data it says it holds.

Tufton said the allegation is being treated seriously enough for the NHF to inform the Office of the Information Commissioner and request support from the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency.

The material said to be involved includes private information tied to medication records and prescription benefits. Tufton noted that such details are confidential, adding that Jamaicans' history of medication use is not information normally made public.

He also said cyberattacks are attempted daily against the health sector, similar to what banks experience, and that he wanted to alert the public because information about the matter was being circulated.

Tufton said measures have already been put in place to improve the NHF's cybersecurity while the investigation continues.