Comment on: ‘Cyberattack on the National Health Laboratory Service of South Africa – implications, response and recommendations’

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7196/

Keywords:

POPIA, laboratory information system, Cyberattack, NHLS, diagnostic pathology

Abstract

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Author Biographies

  • D W Thaldar, School of Law, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa

    Donrich Thaldar is a full professor of law at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, where he chairs the Health Law & Ethics Research Interest Group. He is currently principal investigator of an NIH-funded project that investigates the legal aspects of data science in health innovation in Africa. Professor Thaldar also has a private law practice, where he specializes in strategic litigation in reproductive law (reprolaw). Before starting his academic career in 2017, he practiced as an advocate at the Pretoria Bar. He served as legal counsel or as amicus curiae in several landmark cases in the field of reprolaw in South Africa. Some highlights are: The first case that considered the concept ‘designer children’ (2016); the first case of posthumous conception (2018); the first case of gamete withdrawal from a comatose person (2020); and the first case about the enforceability of a sperm donor agreement (2021); and a successful legal challenge to the constitutionality of the statutory prohibition on non-medical preimplantation sex selection (2022).

  • W Preiser, Division of Medical Virology, Stellenbosch University and National Health Laboratory Service, Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa

    Professor and Head: Division of Medical Virology | Professor en Hoof: Geneeeskundige Virologie

    Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences | Fakulteit Geneeskunde en Gesondheidswetenskappe
    National Health Laboratory Service | Nasionale Gesondheid Laboratorium Diens

    +27 21 938 9353 | [email protected] | 8th floor, Clinical Building, Francie van Zijl Drive

    Tygerberg Campus | Cape Town | Kaapstad | South Africa

References

1. Cassim S, Chapanduka ZC. Cyberattack on the National Health Laboratory Service of South Africa – implications, response and recommendations. S Afr Med J 2024;114(12):e2549. https://doi. org/10.7196/SAMJ.2024.v114i12.2549

2. Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013. https://www.gov.za/documents/protection- personal-information-act (accessed 5 February 2025).

3. POPIA: Protection of Personal Information Act. Chapter 4. Exemption from conditions for processing of personal information. https://popia.co.za/protection-of-personal-information-act-popia/chapter-4 (accessed 5 February 2025).

4. Information Regulator (South Africa). Protection of personal information. Who should be registered as an Information Officer? https://inforegulator.org.za/popia (accessed 5 February 2025).

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Published

2025-05-02

Issue

SAMJ Vol. 115 no. 4

Section

Correspondence

License

Copyright (c) 2025 D W Thaldar, W Preiser

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How to Cite

1.
Thaldar DW, Preiser W. Comment on: ‘Cyberattack on the National Health Laboratory Service of South Africa – implications, response and recommendations’. S Afr Med J [Internet]. 2025 May 2 [cited 2025 May 13];115(4):e3101. Available from: https://samajournals.co.za/index.php/samj/article/view/3101