Telemedicine, Dermatologist or Hair Clinic for Hair Loss

If you want to have hair loss checked or treated in Switzerland, there are several places to go today. They differ in what can be examined, how quickly things move and who pays for what. This comparison sets out the options neutrally. orva is itself a telemedicine provider and is one option among several here.

The four routes at a glance

The table summarises the main differences. Costs and waiting times are guide values as of October 2026.

Telemedicine, what works online and what does not

In an online consultation you fill in a medical questionnaire and usually upload photos of your scalp. A doctor assesses the information and decides whether a treatment is suitable and whether to issue a prescription. Since 2023 the FMH code of professional conduct has stated that advice and treatment through digital channels are possible as long as medical due diligence is maintained. The doctor decides when this is sufficient and when an in-person examination is needed. ^[1]

For medicines sent by post, Switzerland also has a clear rule. A doctor's prescription must exist before the order is placed, and the doctor must know the person's state of health. ^[2]

The limits are practical. Remotely, a doctor cannot examine the scalp with a dermatoscope, do a pull test or take blood. With a typical pattern of hereditary hair loss this is often not necessary. If the course is unusual, an online doctor should refer you to a practice. The guide to treating hair loss online explains the process in more detail.

GP and dermatologist, what a practice can add

The European guideline on androgenetic alopecia describes how the diagnosis is usually made. A clinical examination of hair and scalp, supplemented by a pull test, is usually enough. Dermatoscopy of the scalp (trichoscopy) helps in unclear cases. Blood tests or a tissue sample make sense when another cause cannot be ruled out. ^[3]

A GP can talk through your history, look at your scalp, check blood values such as iron or thyroid function and issue a prescription. A dermatologist also brings experience with rarer forms and the right equipment. At the end of 2025, 718 specialists in dermatology and venereology were practising in Switzerland. ^[5]

Waiting time matters for planning. According to a 2023 survey, 63.7% of respondents who needed an appointment with a specialist waited less than a month, 23.0% one to two months and 13.2% two months or longer. Waiting times have grown longer since 2010. ^[4] There are no Swiss figures for dermatology alone.

What a consultation in a practice costs

Since 1 January 2026, outpatient medical services have been billed under TARDOC. ^[6] A medical consultation is worth 19.20 tax points for the first 5 minutes and 3.84 tax points for each further minute. ^[7] The value of a tax point is set by canton, and in Zurich it is 0.91 francs. ^[8] A 15-minute consultation in Zurich therefore costs around 52 francs, with further examinations on top.

Whether basic health insurance covers an assessment depends on the individual case. If it does, you pay the deductible of at least 300 francs a year and then a 10% co-payment up to a maximum of 700 francs. ^[9] In a GP or HMO model you usually go to your agreed first point of contact first. Treatment for hereditary hair loss is almost always self-pay.

Some insurers also offer teledermatology, where dermatologists assess photos and the service is billed through basic insurance. ^[10] Whether hair loss is accepted there is something to check with the service.

Hair clinic, what it is for

In Switzerland, very different providers use the term hair clinic. They include clinics run by doctors that perform hair transplants, but also studios offering cosmetic hair treatments. So always ask which doctor holds medical responsibility and what their qualifications are.

A hair transplant is an aesthetic procedure that you pay for yourself. Swiss clinics usually charge per graft, according to a comparison portal roughly 3 to 7 francs. ^[12] A clinic in Bern, for example, states 5 to 6 francs per graft and 10,000 to 12,000 francs for 2,000 grafts (as of October 2026). ^[11]

A transplant moves hair from the back of the head, it does not stop hereditary hair loss. The specialist literature therefore usually recommends accompanying medical treatment to preserve the remaining hair. ^[13] A good clinic will explain this and refer you to a doctor for long-term treatment if needed.

Which route can make sense when

An online route often suits you if the pattern is typical, you want to start without an appointment and you have no other symptoms. A practice is the better choice for sudden or patchy hair loss, for itching, pain or inflammation of the scalp, for women with an unclear cause, or if a treatment is not working. A hair clinic becomes relevant if you are considering a transplant.

The routes are not mutually exclusive. Many people start online or with their GP and get referred if needed. The overview hair loss in Switzerland in numbers shows how common hair loss is in Switzerland. The guide to the cost of hair loss treatment in Switzerland compares what the routes cost over the years.

orva as one of the online options

orva is a Swiss telemedicine provider for hair loss. According to orva, a licensed Swiss doctor reviews every request individually, usually within 1 to 2 working days. ^[15] The medical initial assessment costs a one-off CHF 99. If a treatment is prescribed, a subscription over 3, 6 or 12 months follows. ^[14]

There are other online providers in Switzerland too, which differ in price, follow-up care and data protection. One example of a fact-based comparison is orva and Everyman compared. If an in-person examination is needed, a GP or dermatology practice is the right place.