The lacking of uniform standard and procedure in the sterile service, as an example there are hospitals and clinics that are still using the method of soaking or boiling to sterilize instrument. However, we know that such methods or practice does not entirely eradicate bacteria or germ.

Packaging Methods

There are no set standards of packaging method applied to wrap the procedures sets for sterilization and as a result it may affect the quality and sterility of the packed items. There are instances at various hospitals where sterilization principles were not followed due to the lack of knowledge of the sterilization process and procedures in the hospitals as the main objectives is cost saving. On such instances and situation, the lack of guidelines and standards may and cause infection to the patient and therefore prolonging the patients treatment in the hospitals and this will mean additional cost to the hospital and suffering to the patients.

Personnel

In view of the range and scope of work attended by the personnel in the sterile service department it is vital that proper staffing be given. CSSD cannot be treated as unimportant by transferring personnel not with the right attitude, physical and mental conditions. In the sterile service departments the scope and jobs requires the disciplines besides the training. The right personnel and the proper training is important so the department could produce sets that are not only correct but properly sterilized not only 100% first time but every time. The right product, properly packed and properly sterilized will mean that the end user will save time, help reduced hospitals infection rate, cut hospital stay and reduce patients suffering.

Budget and Allocations

Doctors and nurses have to endure using old, blunt, cracked and loose surgical instruments due to lack of budget and allocation given to the sterile service department to purchase and replace the surgical items mentioned. Currently, there are many sterile service department still cleaning and washing surgical instruments manually because there are no allocations or budgets or priority given to the department to purchase high tech and automated machines that may directly and indirectly save cost. There are hospitals which do not have proper CSSD, whereby the user has to wash, clean and pack the items, sending the packed items to the autoclave room for sterilization resulting in no standard practice.

Quality of Commercially Produced Medical Devices

The standard for medical devices supplied by the industry is free for all and no control what so ever. It as recomended that comercially produce products be registered so that we can have products that meet the standard.

Future Manpower Requirement

In the future, that is in the next 3 - 5 years the sterile service departments will have shortage of manpower as the existing staff retires and this has got to be seriously looked into. The sterile service departments will have to adjust and change so as to cope to the shortage of manpower.

Association's Achievements

Even for such a young association it can boast of it's membership strength from 38 to 600 and growing. It membership is not confined to Malaysia but also Singapore, Australia and Thailand. Sponsorship of its member to international seminars has been fruitful as they have been able on their return share their experiences and even organize "The Road Shows". This road shows where held in various part of the country and not only benefited the members but also non-members. In the MSSA AGM, Conference and Exhibitions, we have been able to bring in foreign speakers to share their knowledge and experiences and we were able to pass on the information via the road shows.