Clinical Diagnostics data breach exposes health records of Dutch women

The Dutch Health Care and Youth Inspectorate (IGJ) found that the laboratory Clinical Diagnostics did not adequately protect its data. A cyber‑attack last year resulted in the theft of medical records belonging to around half a million women who took part in the national cervical‑cancer screening programme.

The inspectorate said the lab failed to meet legal security requirements, and that stronger safeguards could have reduced the risk of a large‑scale breach and mitigated its consequences.