New Delhi, Aug. 12 -- The Union health ministry has launched the State Health Regulatory Excellence Index (Shresth) to benchmark and strengthen the systems that regulate drugs in states through a transparent, data-driven framework.

The health of all citizens begins with the safety, quality, and effectiveness of the medicines they take, and ensuring their quality is a commitment of the government to every person in India, said Punya Salila Srivastava, Union health secretary in on Tuesday.

The Shresth initiative, proposed by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), aims to improve the performance of state drug regulatory authorities nationwide, guaranteeing that drug safety and quality standards are consistently met.

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