Nuku’alofa, Tonga – The Tonga Ministry of Health’s digital systems were hit by a cyberattack on Sunday, crippling critical services as hackers demanded an undisclosed ransom.
Health Minister Dr Ana ‘Akau’ola confirmed the breach during a press conference this afternoon, apologising to the public but stating that the ministry remains powerless while the systems remain offline.
The attack has disrupted health operations nationwide, though emergency services continue to function manually.
Minister ‘Akau’ola did not disclose the ransom amount and failed to assure the public that no sensitive patient data had been compromised.
In negotiations with the Australian High Commission in Nuku’alofa, the government has enlisted an Australian cybersecurity team, which arrived in the kingdom last night to assist in restoring the systems.
The minister acknowledged the delays in service recovery, urging patience as technicians work to resolve the issue.
Authorities have yet to identify the hackers while investigations are ongoing, according to the Minister.
The incident highlights growing cybersecurity vulnerabilities in the Pacific region, where cybercriminals increasingly target critical infrastructure.
It follows the ransomware attack experienced by Tonga Communications Corporation (TCC), the state-owned telecommunications provider, in the year 2023.
At the time, TCC reportedly said:
“Ransomware attack has been confirmed to encrypt and lock access to part of TCC’s system. This does not affect voice and internet service delivery to the customers, however, it may slow down the process of connecting new customers, delivering of bills and managing customers’ enquiries.”
