Update on supply surety during Middle East conflict

Stryker cyber incident

As you may be aware, Stryker was the subject of a cyber attack on 11 March. We have been in regular contact with Stryker and they have confirmed that the cyber attack is limited to internal Microsoft systems, and is now contained. They also confirmed that Stryker medical equipment has not been impacted and is safe to use.

This incident has disrupted order processing, manufacturing and shipping, and Stryker is working to restore these services while implementing its business continuity measures. If you are experiencing any supply issues, please reach out to the Customer Engagement team.

You can read Stryker’s latest customer updates on their website: https://www.stryker.com/us/en/about/news/2026/a-message-to-our-customers-03-2026.html

Supplier risk assessment

We have completed a targeted risk assessment with suppliers who source products directly from the conflict region or who may be affected by potential freight delays.

• Responses received so far indicate that there is no immediate risk to supply.
• Most suppliers reported having sufficient stock cover, with additional supply already in transit that is not expected to be impacted.
• Where minor delays have occurred, suppliers do not expect these to affect continuity of supply.

Suppliers with products potentially impacted by the Middle East conflict have implemented business continuity measures, including:

• re-routing sea shipments or utilising air freight for urgent requirements
• increasing buffer stock levels
• reviewing alternative products or sources of supply.

We will provide further updates as we receive responses from suppliers who are yet to provide feedback.

We recognise that this situation is dynamic and changes to the current situation can take effect quickly. Our suppliers will continue to monitor the global situation and update HSV as any risks arise.

Diesel fuel supply

There is heightened concern about diesel supply in Australia, driven by geopolitical tensions and demand spikes. It is not currently a crisis in Victoria, but the situation highlights the dependency of logistics and health service backup generators on diesel.

The federal government has already released strategic reserves as a preventative measure and is also monitoring this risk.

Next steps

We will continue to monitor developments with our suppliers and provide updates as the supply outlook changes. If you receive any feedback from suppliers, please let us know via the Customer Engagement team.