A tech-homoeo hair loss remedy

Joe Jackson visits Dr Batra’s clinic to explore the merits and demerits of the newly introduced Trichoscan mechanism.

It is estimated to affect one in three men at some stage in their lives, and its mere mention tends to trigger a frantic examination of the head in front of the mirror. Women too are increasingly suffering from symptoms, with the strains of modern life and poorly balanced diets blamed.

Not surprisingly therefore, hair loss and other such scalp-related problems are of growing concern and interest to the healthcare industry.

A variety of causes are held responsible for the rise in cases of hairloss among young people, from hereditary conditions to mental stress and thyroid disorders, and a more integrated overall approach is being sought by medical professionals.

The Hair Lossopathic corporate Dr Batras’ Positive Health Clinic Pvt Ltd (DBPHCPL) recently introduced ‘Trichoscan’, a sophisticated equipment used for analysis of hair growth and recession to provide early screening of hair problems.

The technology uses Epiluminescence Microscopy (ELM) to take a digital image of a section of the patient’s head and instantly count the number of hairs, determine the precise hair length, width and strength, and thus provide an overall picture of its current state.

“We are the first Indian institution to develop this technique and it has enormous potential benefits, allowing us to assess the efficiency and success of our treatment at various stages in the process and adapt it accordingly,” Dr Akshay Batra, Deputy Managing Director, said. “I believe traditional natural remedies and more modern medicines can work in partnership with one another as each has its place in treatment, depending on the customer’s needs.”

The fact that the term ‘customer’ is used appears indicative of the orientation of the organisation in today’s market-led, consumer-based approach to medicine.

“Hair Lossopathy has enormous growth potential, with the prevalence of psycho-symatic illnesses, the fact that multiple diseases are now more common and that people are becoming increasingly weary of the side-effects of allopathic medicine, there is great interest in this area of treatment,” he says.

Accessibilty in India to the new ‘Trichoscan’ process, and this customer-driven business overall, is clearly an issue however. Although the technology is provided free of charge as part of the overall healing program, the cost of that treatment annually is Rs 6,900, on top of an initial Rs 250 consultation charge. This may put help beyond the reach of many in need.

Yet Dr Batra points out that the efforts made by the company to address this problem. “Our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme is very comprehensive.

Each clinic adopts one social service project in its local environment, we have a nationwide quota of subsidies for financially constrained customers ( approximately 400 a month), whilst the Dr Batras’ Foundation provides help and access to those previously unable to visit hospitals. As we expand the business, these areas of assistance will broaden to try to reach more of those in need.”

Whether this fusion of old and new medical practice can provide the long-term remedy to those suffering from hair ailments remains to be seen. Time, growth, and currently a little money, will tell.