SHRESTH Initiative Launched to Boost Drug Quality and Safety Across States, Union Health Secretary Calls for Unified Drug Regulatory Excellence Drive.
Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava launched the SHRESTH (State Health Regulatory Excellence Index) in New Delhi today, underscoring the critical link between medicine safety and public health. She stated, “The health of all citizens begins with the safety, quality, and efficacy of the medicines they consume.” The SHRESTH initiative, developed by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), aims to benchmark, evaluate, and improve the performance of state drug regulatory authorities. Ms. Srivastava stressed the government’s commitment to quality assurance in the pharma sector and called for stronger centre-state collaboration. The initiative marks a major step towards enhancing India’s drug safety ecosystem through transparent, data-driven evaluation and inter-state accountability.
SHRESTH In Focus
- State-wise benchmarking
- Health-first regulatory strategy
- Response to quality lapses
- Encouragement of best practices
- Strengthening CDSCO-State ties
- Transparency in drug compliance
- Holistic capacity-building
SHRESTH Initiative to Benchmark Drug Regulatory Excellence
Ms. Srivastava emphasised that ensuring medicine quality is a national priority. She highlighted the crucial role of States and Union Territories in maintaining consistent manufacturing and distribution standards across India. SHRESTH will serve as a nationwide performance index to promote regulatory transparency, support best practices, and recognise high-performing state drug authorities. She stated, “This collaboration is key to making India’s drug ecosystem more robust and globally respected.” SHRESTH, the first of its kind in India, will assess states based on compliance, enforcement, quality control infrastructure, and response time to public health risks. The CDSCO will provide guidance, tools, and training under this framework to ensure all states raise their benchmarks.
(With Inputs)
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