Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava today reiterated that the health of all citizens begins with the safety, quality, and efficacy of the medicines they consume.

 

 

Launching the State Health Regulatory Excellence Index (SHRESTH) initiative in New Delhi, Ms Srivastava emphasized that ensuring the quality of medicines is the commitment of the government. In a strong call to action, Ms Srivastava urged continued centre and state collaboration. The Health Secretary also highlighted the crucial role played by States and Union territories in ensuring quality manufacturing and distribution in India and the need for recognising and supporting their best practices and growth.

 

 

SHRESTH initiative, proposed by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), aims to drive improvements in the performance of state drug regulatory authorities across India, ensuring that drug safety and quality standards are consistently met. It is a first-of-its-kind national initiative to benchmark and strengthen state drug regulatory systems through a transparent and data-driven framework.