By Pacific Island Times News Staff
Sen. William A. Parkinson today raised concerns that the recent power fluctuation at Guam Memorial Hospital, which disrupted critical services, might have been a cyberattack incident that warranted an investigation.
"The strategic importance of Guam makes us a focal point for cyber threats," Parkinson said. "It's crucial to determine whether this incident was the result of a cyberattack and to bolster our defenses accordingly."'
Parkinson said the increasing incidents involving hacking groups targeting utilities and essential services underscored the need for a thorough investigation into any potential malicious activities.
Cybersecurity experts said the number of attacks on critical infrastructure in the U.S. has surged in recent years, predicting that this trend will intensify this year.
In March 2023, GMH’s computer network was hacked, prompting a systems shutdown. The hospital’s IT department discovered unauthorized access to its network.
If it wasn’t a cyberattack, could this week’s power outage at GMH be the result of a failure or malfunction on the Guam Power Authority?
"Ensuring an uninterrupted power supply to essential services like GMH is paramount," Parkinson said in a letter to GPA. "We need to understand what went wrong and implement measures to prevent future occurrences."
Noting the potential risks such disruptions pose to patient safety and hospital operations, Parkinson requested GPA to provide a comprehensive explanation of the power outage, including its root cause and the specific factors that led to the power fluctuation.
The senator also inquired about the existing protocols and safeguards GPA has in place to maintain continuous power to critical infrastructure. He questioned whether there are adequate redundancies or contingency plans designed to mitigate the impact of similar disruptions in the future.
Sen. Sabrina Matanane said the Skilled Nursing Facility, the hospital's satellite clinic in Barrigada Heights, also experienced a power outage, causing an internet disruption that necessitated a shift to manual operations.
“Upon receiving concerns from GMH, I spoke with Lillian Perez-Posadas, hospital administrator, to obtain the latest information on the situation. I will continue to monitor this issue closely,” said Matanane, who toured the Barrigada Heights facility today. "According to Lilian, it's a combination of factors."
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