Sterilisers for critical hospital areas

The Health Ministry plans to install ultra-violet sterilisers in hospitals to protect patients and staff from infectious diseases, in addition to safety measures in place.
To start with, the sterilisers would be fitted at intensive and coronary care units, and operating theatres in need of an upgrade in safety standards, director-general of Health Datuk Dr Ismail Merican said.
"With additional funding, sterilisers will be provided at treatment rooms and examination rooms in the next phase," Dr Ismail told the New Straits Times.
He was commenting on a July 12 front-page NST report which asked, "Just how safe are our hospitals?"
Admitting that the risk of infection was always present, Dr Ismail added that it was greatly minimised by standard safety procedures and continuous supervision.
He said the introduction of new technologies and equipment to prevent the spread of diseases would continue.
"We assure the public that the risk of hospital-acquired infection is minimal."
On average, he said, most developed countries’ hospital-acquired infections comprised up to 10 per cent of acute care admissions.
However, studies conducted at four major hospitals here revealed that hospital-acquired infections stood at only four per cent.
Dr Ismail said all new hospitals and most hospitals built since 1980 had air-conditioning systems that met international hospital safety standards.
"Although most of our wards are not air-conditioned, they have natural ventilation with ceiling fans."
He said it was neither cost-effective nor necessary to provide sterilised air to the whole hospital.
"It is impossible to achieve a sterile environment in the whole hospital. Even in operating theatres, the most advanced technology can only achieve a sterile environment in the operation zones, which is adequate.
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