Union Health Secretary Smt. Punya Salila Srivastava on Aug 12 launched the State Health Regulatory Excellence Index (SHRESTH) a first-of-its-kind national framework to benchmark and improve state drug regulatory systems through transparent, data-driven assessment. Developed by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), SHRESTH will help states identify gaps, achieve maturity certification, and ensure the safety, quality, and efficacy of medicines across India.
The index will assess states under two categories Manufacturing States (27 indicators) and Primarily Distribution States/UTs (23 indicators) covering areas such as human resources, infrastructure, licensing, surveillance, and responsiveness. Data will be submitted monthly, scored, and shared with states for targeted improvements.
Emphasizing centre state collaboration, the Health Secretary urged uniform implementation of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, capacity building, and adoption of best practices. CDSCO will extend the Not of Standard Quality (NSQ) Dashboard, hold joint trainings and audits, and share success stories from top-performing states.
The initiative aims to strengthen regulatory systems, boost digitization, harmonize processes, and reinforce India’s position as the “Pharmacy of the World.”
