The Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) has urged internet of medical things (IoMT) industry members to adopt comprehensive cyber defense strategies to avoid compromizing patients' welfare and safety.
Speaking at the symposium on cyber security on medical and healthcare system on Friday, HKPC chairman Willy Lin said without a robust security strategy the risks of IoMT devices could outweigh the benefits.
“With IoMT in place, the medical services will benefit from improved quality and enhanced efficiency. But the ever-increasing network interfaces and growing volume of data flow across various untrusted or non-standardized security networks will also put the sector at the mercy of cyber criminals,” he said.
“The disruption of medical and healthcare services, loss of critical data such as patient’s medical history, delays in treatment, or even serious accidents can be some of the undesirable results. Sound cyber security capabilities are critical for medical professionals to ensure their service quality in the smart era.”
At the symposium, participants also explored the international vision for the future of smart healthcare, reviewed the latest security threats and considered preventative measures to enhance awareness of the medical and healthcare sector.
The event was founded by the HKSAR government's Innovation and Technology Fund, and was officiated by speakers including privacy commissioner for personal data Stephen Wong, deputy government CIO Victor Lam and Hospital Authority head of IT and health informatics Dr Cheung Ngai-Tseung.
First published in Computerworld Hong Kong