13.01.2026
2 min
384
Belgian hospital AZ Monica was forced to completely shut down all servers, cancel scheduled medical procedures, and transfer several critical patients to other facilities following a serious cyberattack that occurred on the morning of January 13, 2026.
The incident affected both hospital campuses in Antwerp and Deurne. At 6:32 a.m., hospital management decided to immediately disconnect all servers after detecting signs of system compromise. As a result, all scheduled procedures were canceled, while the emergency department continues to operate at reduced capacity. Emergency medical services (MUG) and intensive care transport units (PIT) are currently unavailable.
Seven critically ill patients were transferred to other hospitals with assistance from the Red Cross. All remaining patients continue to receive care at AZ Monica, although patient registration processes have slowed significantly due to a temporary switch to paper-based records.
Hospital officials stated that access to electronic patient medical records is currently unavailable, forcing the postponement of non-urgent consultations. Relevant authorities have been notified, and police and prosecutors have launched an investigation into the incident. While the hospital has not confirmed the nature of the attack, local media report unverified claims suggesting a possible ransom demand, pointing to a potential ransomware attack.
The cyberattack on AZ Monica highlights the growing vulnerability of healthcare institutions to cyber threats. Even short-term IT disruptions in hospitals can directly impact patient safety and the continuity of critical medical services.
