Why in news?
The Union Health Ministry launched SHRESTH – India’s first national framework to evaluate and rank state drug regulatory systems. The initiative was unveiled in August 2025 to improve the safety and quality of medicines.
What is SHRESTH?
SHRESTH stands for State Health Regulatory Excellence Index. It is a virtual assessment tool designed to measure how well states and union territories regulate the manufacture and distribution of medicines. The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) implements the index under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
Objectives
- Benchmark drug regulatory systems across states and identify gaps.
- Encourage improvements in human resources, infrastructure, licensing and surveillance.
- Build public trust in the safety and efficacy of medicines available in India.
How it works
- Indicators: Manufacturing states are assessed on 27 indicators and distribution states on 23 indicators, grouped into themes such as staffing, infrastructure, licensing, surveillance and responsiveness.
- Monthly data: States submit data every month. They receive scores and feedback to guide improvements.
- Two‑tier ranking: States are categorised separately for manufacturing and distribution to allow fair comparison.
- Alignment with global standards: The index aligns with World Health Organization benchmarks (WHO ML3) to move India towards internationally recognised quality systems.
- Peer learning: A platform will facilitate sharing of best practices among states.
Why it matters
Variations in regulatory capacity across India have sometimes led to inconsistent drug quality. SHRESTH aims to create a level playing field and protect public health by ensuring that every state maintains high standards.