SHRESTH health regulatory index launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to assess and improve state health governance, aligning with National Health Policy 2017 and SDG 3.
SHRESTH: India Launches First State Health Regulatory Excellence Index
Introduction to SHRESTH
The Government of India has launched SHRESTH — the State Health Regulatory Excellence Index — marking a significant step towards evaluating and improving the health regulatory framework across states and Union Territories. This pioneering index aims to assess the performance of health regulators and strengthen governance mechanisms in the healthcare sector. The initiative is designed to ensure better accountability, transparency, and quality in the delivery of healthcare services across India.
Objectives of the Index
SHRESTH has been developed to measure the effectiveness of state-level health regulations, focusing on licensing, monitoring, enforcement, and consumer grievance redressal systems. It provides a comparative assessment, enabling states to identify gaps and implement corrective measures. This data-driven evaluation is expected to guide policymakers in enhancing the efficiency of public health systems.
Parameters of Assessment
The index will assess states and UTs on various parameters, including the timeliness of service delivery, quality assurance, transparency in processes, adherence to regulatory norms, and responsiveness to patient complaints. The evaluation process will follow a standardised methodology to ensure fairness and accuracy, encouraging healthy competition among states.
Role in National Health Policy Goals
By promoting best practices and setting benchmarks for performance, SHRESTH supports the objectives of the National Health Policy (NHP) 2017, which focuses on strengthening health governance and ensuring universal health coverage. The index will provide policymakers with actionable insights to achieve health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and improve the overall quality of healthcare delivery.
Impact on Citizens and Stakeholders
For citizens, SHRESTH means improved access to quality healthcare, quicker response times for grievances, and higher accountability from health institutions. For stakeholders like hospitals, diagnostic centres, and regulators, the index sets a clear performance benchmark, motivating them to maintain compliance and improve service standards.
Why This News is Important
Relevance for Competitive Exam Aspirants
For aspirants preparing for government exams like UPSC, State PSCs, SSC, Banking, Railways, Defence, and Teaching positions, understanding SHRESTH is vital. It reflects India’s evolving approach towards governance, transparency, and performance-based evaluation in critical sectors like health.
Policy and Governance Significance
This news highlights the implementation of an evidence-based governance mechanism in healthcare regulation. Such reforms align with topics under Polity and Governance, Social Justice, and Health in exam syllabi. Knowledge of this initiative will help aspirants answer current affairs-based questions and write better answers in descriptive papers.
Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals
The SHRESTH index directly contributes to achieving SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being. Understanding its framework will help candidates link global goals with national policies — an essential skill in both prelims and mains exam preparation.
Historical Context
Evolution of Health Regulation in India
Health regulation in India has traditionally been a state subject under the Constitution. While the Central Government provides policy guidance through bodies like the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), states manage licensing, quality checks, and enforcement of health standards. However, the absence of a unified performance assessment tool often led to disparities.
Previous Government Initiatives
Before SHRESTH, India launched initiatives such as the National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS) and Kayakalp to assess healthcare quality in government facilities. Yet, these primarily focused on infrastructure and service quality, not the regulatory framework itself. SHRESTH fills this gap by targeting governance and regulatory efficiency.
Key Takeaways from SHRESTH – State Health Regulatory Excellence Index
| S.No. | Key Takeaway |
|---|---|
| 1 | SHRESTH is India’s first State Health Regulatory Excellence Index, launched to assess and improve state health regulatory systems. |
| 2 | It evaluates states and UTs on parameters like licensing efficiency, transparency, grievance redressal, and quality assurance. |
| 3 | The index supports National Health Policy 2017 goals and aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 3. |
| 4 | It aims to create healthy competition among states to improve healthcare governance and delivery. |
| 5 | SHRESTH will help policymakers identify gaps and take corrective measures for better public health outcomes. |
FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is SHRESTH?
SHRESTH stands for State Health Regulatory Excellence Index, an initiative by the Government of India to evaluate state-level health regulatory systems.
Q2. Which ministry is responsible for the SHRESTH Index?
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) is responsible for this initiative.
Q3. What is the main objective of SHRESTH?
Its main objective is to assess, compare, and improve state health regulatory systems, ensuring better governance and service delivery.
Q4. How will SHRESTH benefit citizens?
It will ensure improved healthcare services, faster grievance redressal, and more transparent regulatory processes.
Q5. How does SHRESTH relate to the National Health Policy 2017?
It supports the policy’s goal of strengthening health governance and promoting universal health coverage.
Q6. Which Sustainable Development Goal is directly linked to SHRESTH?
It is directly linked to SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being.
Q7. Will SHRESTH create competition among states?
Yes, it is designed to encourage healthy competition for better regulatory performance.
Q8. How is SHRESTH different from previous health quality programs?
Unlike programs like NQAS and Kayakalp, SHRESTH focuses specifically on governance and regulatory performance rather than infrastructure alone.
Q9. Is health a state or central subject in India?
Health is primarily a state subject, with the central government providing policy guidance.
Q10. What are the parameters used in SHRESTH assessment?
Parameters include licensing, transparency, grievance redressal, quality assurance, and adherence to regulatory norms.
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