Amman, April 13 (Petra) – The Ministry of Health has launched a project to establish a sectoral response team for cybersecurity incidents in the health sector, as part of broader national efforts to enhance digital readiness, protect vital infrastructure, and coordinate cybersecurity responses across the Kingdom.

Minister of Health Firas Hawari, who chaired the inaugural meeting of the project’s higher steering committee, underscored the importance of the initiative in safeguarding data a priority consistently highlighted by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II.

Hawari stated that the sectoral team will work to establish a robust defense system capable of efficiently addressing cyber threats and mitigating associated risks by strengthening the technical, human, and administrative capacities of health institutions.

He described the initiative as a strategic step toward a secure and reliable health cyberspace, calling for full coordination among all relevant parties to ensure successful implementation, protect health data and patient privacy, and secure business continuity.

Director of the Institutional Development and Quality Control Directorate, Safaa Ouran, noted that the project aligns with the National Cybersecurity Strategic Plan and follows the launch of the National Cybersecurity Framework. She emphasized the urgency of forming a dedicated response team for the health sector, which will be led by the Ministry of Health to reinforce cybersecurity governance within the sector.

Amal Shafei, Head of the Risk Management and Cyber Governance Department at the Ministry, gave a presentation on the project’s phases and implementation mechanism, which follows the three-line defence model: health institutions as the first line, the Ministry of Health as the second, and the National Cybersecurity Center as the third line and national authority for oversight and evaluation.

Mahmoud Saleh, Director of the Electronic Transformation and Information Technology Directorate, offered a technical overview of the electronic linkage mechanism between health institutions and the cyber operations room, highlighting the technical framework supporting central connectivity readiness.

At the conclusion of the meeting, participants recommended convening a follow-up session with decision-makers and technical experts from selected healthcare institutions to initiate the practical phase of the project. This includes launching the electronic linkage and piloting the response mechanisms in real-world conditions.

//Petra// AJ

13/04/2025 15:43:28