A bold ransom demand of 150 billion yen has been refused by a Japanese hospital. The monetary demand was reportedly made by an unidentified group whose identity and motive are yet to be confirmed by authorities. The incident is under investigation by the national police, and operations at the hospital continue unabated despite the threat. This type of extortion is a rare occurrence and has shaken Japan's healthcare sector.

This news significantly shocked the Japanese society due to the high amount involved and the healthcare setting. Japan's healthcare system is highly respected and seen as a safe, reliable entity, so a threat of this nature is treated with gravity. Legal and ethical values protect patients and their data; organizations that compromise these principles face both social and legal implications.

Such cases are also treated seriously in the US and EU. However, the increasingly digital nature of health systems has seen a rise in cyber attacks, including ransomware, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. The US has seen several hospitals become victims of ransom demands, often causing significant disruption in services.