Emergency Numbers & Access
Call 112 for life-threatening emergencies. Call 116 117 (Ärztlicher Bereitschaftsdienst) for urgent but non-life-threatening issues — available evenings, nights, weekends. Notaufnahme (ER) is open 24/7 at all major hospitals.
Response time: 8-15 minutes nationwide (among fastest in Europe)
Cost: With insurance: free. Without insurance: ER visit €200-600+, ambulance €400-800+, hospital stay €300-800+/day.
Healthcare System
Germany operates a dual-track mandatory insurance system: public statutory insurance (GKV, ~87% of population) and private insurance (PKV, ~13%). The system is among the best-funded in Europe with short wait times and high-quality facilities. Patients have free choice of doctor and direct specialist access without referral. However, the system is designed for insured residents — uninsured visitors face steep out-of-pocket costs. Call 116 117 for non-emergency urgent medical help.
Designed for: All residents — health insurance is legally required.
GP Access & Costs
No referral needed. Can book directly with any GP (Hausarzt) or specialist. Private patients often get faster appointments.
Typical wait: GP: same day to 3 days. Specialists: 2-6 weeks (GKV) or days (PKV). Use 116 117 for urgent specialist referrals.
Availability: Widely available in cities. Growing shortages in rural eastern Germany (Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Brandenburg, Sachsen-Anhalt). Use Jameda or Doctolib apps to find available doctors.
GP Visit
With insurance: no charge
Private GP
€50-100 per GP visit (uninsured). Insured: no direct charge.
ER Without Insurance
ER visit: €200-600+. Ambulance: €400-800+. Hospital: €300-800+/day. You will be treated and billed afterwards.
Medication
Insured patients pay €5-10 copay per prescription. Children under 18: free. Without insurance, medications cost full pharmacy price (often €10-80+ per item).
Health insurance is required for visa
Pharmacy & Medication
Hours: Mon–Fri 8:30am–6:30pm, Sat mornings. Apotheke Notdienst (emergency pharmacy) operates 24/7 on rotation — find nearest at apotheken.de or call 0800 00 22 833.
OTC: Pharmacists are highly trained but Germany is stricter than many countries — ibuprofen 400mg+, many cold remedies, and allergy medications require prescriptions. Paracetamol and low-dose ibuprofen available OTC.
Controlled substances: Germany's Betäubungsmittelgesetz (BtMG, narcotics law) is very strict. Travellers must carry a Schengen certificate signed by their doctor and stamped by their national health authority for any controlled medication (e.g., ADHD medication, opioids, benzodiazepines).
Practical Tips
- Always carry your Gesundheitskarte (insurance card) — doctors cannot treat you without it
- Register a Hausarzt (family doctor) early — they coordinate referrals and manage your records
- Call 116 117 for urgent non-emergency care evenings and weekends — they can arrange same-day appointments
- Use Jameda or Doctolib apps to find doctors with available slots and read patient reviews
- Pharmacies (Apotheke, red "A" sign) are expert advisors — visit them first for minor ailments
- Find the nearest 24/7 emergency pharmacy at apotheken.de or call 0800 00 22 833
What is the emergency number in Germany?
112 for fire and ambulance, 110 for police. 112 works across the EU. The Ärztlicher Bereitschaftsdienst (116 117) handles out-of-hours non-emergency medical issues.
Is healthcare free in Germany for visitors?
EU/EEA visitors with EHIC receive free public healthcare. Non-EU visitors need travel insurance. Germany has a dual system — public (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung) and private (private Krankenversicherung). EHIC only covers public system treatment.
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Sources: Federal Ministry of Health (BMG), GKV-Spitzenverband, CDC Travelers Health 2025, Robert Koch Institute (RKI), KBV (Kassenärztliche Bundesvereinigung)
Last reviewed: March 2026 by Gewardz Health
Further Reading
EHIC, GHIC & E111: Free Healthcare in Europe
How the EHIC works in Germany for EU/EEA visitors — public vs private care coverage.
Read guideHealthcare in France
Compare Germany with France — see how the reimbursement model differs.
Read guideHealthcare in Italy
Planning a European trip? See how Italy's SSN system compares with Germany.
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