Union Health Ministry Launches SHRESTH – State Health Regulatory Excellence Index

The first-ever national effort to benchmark and reinforce state drug regulatory systems by using a transparent, data-horrendous framework. The wellbeing of the Indian populace is dependent on the quality, effectiveness, and safety of the medicines that they take in. One of the promises of the Indian Government is to safeguard its citizens by ensuring the quality of drugs.  Aligned with this, the Union Health Ministry has introduced the State Health Regulatory Excellence Index (SHRESTH) so as to enhance state drug regulatory systems.

Context

• A new project aimed at enhancing drug regulatory systems in the states is the State Health Regulatory Excellence Index (SHRESTH) as initiated by the Union Health Ministry.

Key Points

What is SHRESTH?

• SHRESTH is an Indian attempt at harmonizing and improving the performance of state drug regulators throughout India. It is an open source, data-driven model that is aimed at:

• Empower state drug control machinery

• Protect the safety and quality of drugs at a high level all the time

• The benefits were directed towards the enhancement of human resources, infrastructure, and digitalization

• SHRESTH is a virtual state gap assessment system, which makes states acquire a picture of the current state of their regulations and direct them towards maturity certification.

Characteristics of SHRESTH:

• States are assessed on various parameters using the index, which use human resources, infrastructure, licensing activities, surveillance activities, and responsiveness.

• States will be divided into two categories; Manufacturing States and Primarily Distribution States/UTs.

• The index comprises 27 manufacturing state indices and 23 distribution state indices that will be rated through the monthly data presented by states.

Why SHRESTH Is Significant to India

• National Drug Safety:

  • Quality of medicines is pertinent to the health of all Indian citizens. SHRESTH helps to keep drug safety in the country and makes the regulation activities and standards better.

• Global Recognition:

  • With India having received the WHO ML3 status of vaccines, the current impetus is to advance medicines to the same light as WHO. 

  • SHRESTH also plays a role in international harmonization as it enhances India regulation procedures and serves to ensure that the country becomes the Pharmacy of the World.

• Cooperative Approach:

  • The project is significant due to its focus on the collaborative effort made by the Centre and the States where the role of state offices can not be overestimated in the process of high-quality manufacturing and distribution. 

  • It also helps in sharing the best practices among the states which further reinforces the general regulatory environment.

Merits of SHRESTH

• Enhanced Human Resources: States will also be able to concentrate on the growth of human resources so that they can take care of the regulatory challenges effectively.

• Infrastructure Development: States will be assisted to increase investments in improved laboratories, testing capabilities and IT infrastructure to sharpen up their regulatory capabilities.

• Digitization: The index compels states to better digitize the processes of approval, licenses and inspection.

• Intense Surveillance: Surveillance activities will be intense since intensive evaluations will be regularly undertaken to guard against arising weaknesses.

Key Outcomes:

• Knowledge Sharing-States will be able to learn what other higher performing states are doing because the best practices will be revealed under CDSCO.

• Targeted Development: It will be focused on the results of the SHRESTH assessments, according to which the careful advice will be given to the further work of the state in each of them to support those parts which are insufficiently fortified.

Conclusion

SHRESTH transforms the drug regulation in India. The former results in safety of drugs being ensured among all Indians irrespective of geography as it facilitates focused enhancements. This project will enhance India as a manufacturing and distributing centre of the global pharmaceutical industry, and protect the health of all citizens.