India launches index to benchmark state drug regulatory systems

SHRESTH will track parameters such as laboratory testing capacities.

India’s Union Health Ministry has launched the “State Health Regulatory Excellence Index” (SHRESTH), a national initiative to benchmark and strengthen state drug regulatory authorities across India.

SHRESTH will evaluate states using 27 indices for manufacturing states and 23 for primarily distribution states.

The index will track parameters such as human resources, laboratory testing capacities, digitisation of approvals and licences, rigour of inspections and surveillance, and responsiveness to citizen grievances.

It will cover five key areas: human resources, infrastructure, licensing activities, surveillance activities, and responsiveness.

States are required to submit data on predefined metrics to the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization by the 25th of each month. Scores will be calculated on the first of the following month and shared with all states and union territories.