National schemes like Ayushman Bharat will play important role in accessibility and acceptability of homeopathy

Karan Bhargava, Founder, Homoeo Amigo in an interaction with Express Healthcare highlights that if homeopathy is supported by the government, then there is an unsaid trust and reliability attached not only to any one service provider, but the entire type of approach. This will invite service providers to invest money in providing best quality treatment to masses. This will further increase accessibility

Please walk us through the journey of Homoeo Amigo and its future plans?

Homoeo Amigo started with the thought of challenging the status quo of the Homeopathy Industry. It aims at reaching the masses directly and making them aware of the astonishing results of Homeopathy and hence changing the way Homeopathy is perceived and used in India. With the special checks on quality services through Hygienic and transparent methods. With this, we started with our first clinic at Noida, sector 18, in the month of November 2020, during the Pandemic, when it was the most important to provide safe and effective treatment to everyone. During the course of 1 year, we opened 5 more clinics at different locations in Delhi NCR,

While we witnessed the common health problems individuals are facing in daily routine, we found that pain is still the major condition that hampers the quality of life and we need to provide a solution that is in-aligned with our concept of non-invasive solutions. Hence, we started with Physiotherapy services at two of our major locations in Delhi-NCR.

We have already touched 10k lives and added a valuable contribution in their health conditions. In the upcoming future, we strive to continue reaching masses and make a difference in every life touch, with a future plan to expand by opening 5 new clinics at different locations of Delhi NCR by the end of 2022 and touch 1mn lives by the end of 2024.

Do you think that national schemes like Ayushman Bharat can play an important role in increasing the accessibility and acceptability of homeopathy in the Indian healthcare system?

National schemes like Ayushman Bharat will definitely play a very important role in both accessibility and acceptability of homeopathy. Often it has been observed that people go for treatment which has some or the other attached reference to it. This can be related to hospital, doctor, medicines and even pathology labs and medical stores. If homeopathy is supported by the government, then there is an unsaid trust and reliability attached not only to any one service provider, but the entire type of approach. This will invite service providers to invest money in providing best quality treatment to masses. This will further increase accessibility.

We repeat it time-n-again, that homeopathy is still not widely accepted because it has myths associated with it. But also, because accessibility is a concern. Homoeo Amigo wants to fill this gap and hence serve the best healthcare to every individual irrespective of economy class. And if National Schemes supports Homeopathy, then our journey will be much easier and connected to people.

What are the major challenges and need of the hour as far as homeopathy in India is concerned?

Major challenges of homeopathy is low awareness. People either are not at all aware with how this science works or are not aware about the successful cases treated with homeopathy, when other conventional treatments failed. Myths are another challenge. People believe that this is slow to act, has a lot of food restrictions, only for skin and hair and should be opted only for chronic issues.

Another challenge is that homeopathy is not covered in insurances and is not considered a treatment approach by many because of the status quo associated with it. When we say, quality treatment (with seal- packed medicines supported by Rx) with Hygienic conditions (via aesthetic clinics) and transparent approach (written Rx), we actually challenge such assumptions with our technology driven clinics and best in industry experienced doctors.

How do you see the role of establishing a Centre of Excellence (CoE) in homeopathy to strengthen the research and development, training and overall presence of this system of medicine in the Indian healthcare system? 

The best thing about homeopathy is that it’s a holistic system of medicine and the reason I say this is, it takes care of your overall well being – physiological and emotional. In the era of globalisation and awareness where the internet has made things so crystal clear and transparent, a centre of excellence in homoeopathy which is beyond the contemporary, classical system was the need of the hour.

At Homoeo Amigo, CoE are also meant to undertake high end research and resolve the hurdles related to drug development process. We keep trying to connect with different national/international institutes that help to develop clinically trial products. Such a model of practice is a boon to the Indian healthcare system in several ways. It not only nurtures talent but also is a source of research as all the cases are well documented and anything that is ready for analysis is the foundation for research, development and betterment of all.

Can you throw some light on the role of homeopathy in post-COVID era?

We have witnessed post-COVID complications suffered by many people who were successful in beating COVID. These ranged from weakness, lung complications, gastric issues, hair loss, diabetes, hypertension and many more. Homeopathy has the power not only to eradicate associated symptoms but also to re-activate the natural immunity of the body, thus providing a protective shield from viruses in future.