AIIMS ransomware attack: hospital server affected for two days straight

Ransomware attack on AIIMS Delhi 

The National Informatics Centre (NIC) issued a statement that India’s leading public medical facility, AIIMS Delhi, has been affected by a ransomware attack on its server. The institution’s E Hospital services have been affected as a consequence. The issue has stagnated at the hospital for two days as different government agencies still consort to solve the issue. 

It has been observed that basic facilities such as patient data systems, and day-to-day activities, including OPD registrations and blood sample reports. Other crucial activities such as smart lab, billing, report generation, the appointment system, etc that handle the outpatient and inpatient hospital services also remained out of order. 

This has caused a major complication as patients who have come seeking medical assistance are being rescheduled. Outpatient Department (OPD) at AIIMS Delhi observes a footfall of thousands of patients each day. Currently, it is being reported that the staffers are doing documentation and other official procedures manually to keep the workflows running. In a related instance, a patient from Neemuch who had come to collect his blood sample reports on Wednesday was requested to visit again on Monday to collect the same. 

An FIR with the Cyber Crime / IFSO Unit of the Delhi Police has been registered. “A computer incident has been reported by the Additional Security Officer at AIIMS, Delhi. On the basis of the report, an FIR has been registered under Section 385 IPC, Section 66/66F IT Act by IFSO, Special Cell. The matter is being investigated,” a senior police official said. AIIMS authorities on Thursday informed that various Government agencies are working towards solving the issue and will be helping in bringing back full functionality to the institution. 

Meanwhile, some official sources have also told the media that the E Hospital services at AIIMS Delhi will be constructed and resumed in another two days to regain digitisation of certain basic functionalities.