The idea and objective to establish and form an association for the sterilization services was mooted by a few of the sterilization staff who had the opportunity to attend the World Sterilization Conference held in Singapore in 1990. However after the Amsterdam Sterilization Conference 1995, the idea was put in action as it became more obvious that the active interaction, sharing of knowledge and experiences by attending such conferences, would not only benefit individuals but the patients and the country in general. The few CSSD nurses from Hospital Kuala Lumpur, University Hospital and Hospital Sg. Buloh came together and formed the Malaysian Sterile Service Association. With the encouragement, support not only from other local nurses but those from the world body and others and including that of the Ministry of Health, the drive and the urgency to establish the Association for the Sterile Services became the outmost priority.

The Association was initially organized under protem committee and headed by Pn. Wan Muji Wan Ngah, Pn. Hasnah Jalil (retired), Pn. Yeoh Saw See, Pn. Noormah Hashim and Pn. Rohani Ahmad.

The drive to quicken the pace to establish the Association was also on account of the Ministry Of Health not sponsoring and organizing seminars and education programs for those candidates that were interested in the sterile services and also the continuing education of those in the central service. It simply meant that there was no formal training and thus the upgrading in the sterile service so as to contribute to the improving patient care. It became more and more obvious that an association must be formed as those in the sterile service could see not the immediate problem but also the trends and potential problems that were coming not just within the central service but also the industry. Establishing an association is the only way to further educate and update the latest development in the sterile service field.

The Malaysian Sterile Service Association held its first unofficial meeting (protem committee) on the 2nd September 1995 and officially registered and approved by the Registrar of Society on the 26th January 1996. Initially only 38 members were registered but to date the Association had 527 members. 67 % those serving the government sector and 33 % from private hospitals.

The Association has also 29 members form Singapore and not forgetting the participation of those in the industry vendors or suppliers who became corporate members. Membership of the association is not only restricted to nursing staff serving the sterile service department but it includes the autoclave technician, operating nurse, infection control officers, microbiologist, engineers and doctors. Our membership is still growing.