The European Commission’s plan aims to shield the healthcare sector from growing cyber threats and is vital for safeguarding the digital transformation in healthcare. In 2023, the healthcare sector faced 309 significant cybersecurity incidents, the highest among critical sectors.

The plan’s main elements include the establishment of a Cybersecurity Support Centre for hospitals aiming to improve threat detection, preparedness, and response to cybersecurity incidents. The Centre will launch an EU-wide early warning service by 2026 to offer real-time alerts on potential cyber threats. A rapid response service will be introduced to minimize the impact of cyberattacks, with the support of the EU Cybersecurity Reserve.

The plan will be progressively implemented from 2025 to 2026.