Dr Batra's to expand internationally with an investment of Rs 20 crore

Homeopathy brand Dr Batra's will be investing as much as Rs 20 crore in its international expansion this year and the reason for this decision, said its founder was owing to the positive response recieved in markets like Europe and the Middle East and the stagnating growth in India

At least 10 international clinics will be opened in 2016, according to Dr Batra's founder chairman, Mukesh Batra. The clinics would require an investment of Rs1-2 crore each if not opened through a franchise, he said.

After establishing its presence in Tier-I, II and III Indian cities, the brand now looks to enter 10 international markets through its clinic services and products, said Batra. These markets include Bahrain, Switzerland, Canada, France, Malaysia and South Africa, he said.

According to him, Dr Batra's will also add more clinics in countries where it already has a presence, with 10 more clinics in India, four more in the United Arab Emirates and two more in London.

Dr Batra's aims to operate 450 clinics globally in the next five years through its international expansion, said Batra. India would account for at least 210 of these, he said.

"Homeopathy is recognized in 86 countries. This is an opportunity to go to markets where we can expand further," said Batra.

In Dubai, the brand has become more well-known over the last six years, said Batra. "When we started out in Dubai, all of our patients were NRIs. Now, at least 30% of our clients there are local residents or (non-Indian) expats," he said.

At the same time, stringent healthcare regulations in international markets could pose a challenge, he said. "Sometimes, registrations and work permits for doctors are difficult in these countries," he said.

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