The students and physicians gave warm welcome to them. They visited many clinics and hospitals in and around Mumbai. They stayed with students of Mumbai Devi Homoeopathic Medical College for a few days. After a month all practitioners left for their native place except Henriette Bucher. She was much impressed by Indian Homoeopaths and has taken a special interest in learning, interacting with students and practitioners. Last week she came to chennai and visited a few clinics and then Sree Sairam Homoeopathy Medical College Dr. Rufus Nathaniel, the principal and the trustee J. Sharmila organised an interactive section with students.

N.Sowmiya: What is the scope of Homoeopathy in Switzerland? Is homoeopathy recognised there?

     Henriette Bucher:

     Our country is very small. We have population around 9 millions, whereas here Mumbai itself densely populated with 18 million people! Now the people of my country like very much our system. I live in zug, nearby the capital Bern, where we have more clinics. Still we cannot prefix doctor to our name like you. But we are allowed to practise. No restrictions. Still we are demanding the government to recognise, we hope that it would be possible by this year.

B.N.R Vijayalakshmi: How about the facilities for practise in your country?

     Now we have private clinics all over our country. But no hospitals so far like here. Licensed medical shops dispense quality medicines. The famous Bio force Homoeopathic pharmaceutical is in our country. Dr.A. Vogel founded this laboratory. There are many institutes and Associations obtain license from the Government. In these institutes we study like you for four years. After that we are certified to practise. But like in India there is no law at present to protect the rights of a homoeopath.

Anuradha: Is there any Research centers in Switzerland for development of Homoeopathy?

     Yeah, there are many institutions and research centers dedicated their service to Homoeopathy. I studied at SHI, founded by famous Indian Homoeopath Dr.B.K.Bose, who is a devoted disciple of Dr.Kent. He is no more. Dr. Mohinder Singh Jus, also Indian homoeopath who studied at Calcutta, is our teacher. We are very close to Germany. Few years back we had an international seminar at Leipzig, where our Dr. Hahnemann lived for many years. We had presented many research papers.

K.R.Keerthana: Could you us tell something about awareness of Homoeopathic Medicines among allopathic Physicians in your country?

     Good response! Many allopathic practitioners practise homoeopathy like here. They are choosy for some complaints.

C.S.Subha pradha: Is our degree recognized in Switzerland?

No! There is no Homoeopathic Medical degree in our country. We are certified that’s all. But in future we will get it.

V. Harihara Sudan: what do you think about our country? Do you want to settle here? What is the position of Indians in your country? Any possibility to establish a practice there?

     India is an excellent country. I like very much, but no notion to settle here. I too love my country very much. Even though I like, I know that legal provisions in India never allow me to practise. Similarly an Indian like you cannot unless you get proper immigration to our country as my teacher had settled.

M.Arulvannan: Do you treat your patients on Disease basis? What is your opinion on investigations done frequently on a patient? Do you give importance to mental symptoms?

     Of course! It is needed to know the prognosis of the patient; to eliminate the common symptoms. I follow Kentian method rather than hahnemannian because my teachings were from Kentian followers. I think it would be an ideal concept as it gives more importance to higher functions of our body. Mostly my prescriptions are on mental and physical generals.

N.Sowmiya: what type of disease do you treat more - Acute or Chronic?

     I get patients both acute and chronic.

Anuradha: You met many Homoeopaths in Mumbai and Chennai. Any thing different from your country?

     At mumbai I met many teachers at Mumbai devi Homoeopathy Medical college, Dr. Vaishnav, Dr. Daksha, Dr. Parinaz, Dr. Goel and I do not remember the names…then I met Dr. Farook Master , Dr. Praful Vijayakar, Dr. Jawahar shah all are dynamic workers I learnt many things. Here they treat more cases. At Chennai I met Dr.R.Gnanasambandam and Dr. K.M.H. Akbarsha. They were very authentic in their treatment. Mostly evidence based treatment. In Swiss…. it is difficult to get more patients like here. Here most practitioners treat quickly. In my country the interview prolongs from one hour to three hours.

Compiled by Ms. Latha I BHMS , Sairam Homoeopathy Medical College, Chennai.