Good to know
Sick or injured in Berlin: what visitors should do
A fever in the hotel, a twisted ankle on the cobblestones, toothache on a Sunday: nobody plans for it, but knowing which number is for what saves time and nerves in that moment. Here is who to call when, how to find an emergency pharmacy and dentist, and what the European Health Insurance Card covers. None of this replaces medical advice, and when in doubt the rule is always: 112.
112 Emergency: ambulance and fire service, for life-threatening situations and serious injuries
110 Police
116117 On-call doctors' service, around the clock, for urgent but not life-threatening complaints
030 89004-333 Berlin emergency dental service
030 19240 Berlin poison control, day and night
01 112 or 116117?
112 is for emergencies where life and health are at stake: unconsciousness, difficulty breathing, severe chest pain, serious accidents, fire. For anything urgent but not life-threatening that cannot wait until the next practice day, such as a high fever at the weekend or an infection getting worse, there is 116117, the on-call doctors' service. It is available around the clock, including nights, weekends and public holidays, and refers you to an on-call practice. According to the operator the call is free with a German phone contract; with a foreign SIM card it may cost something. The 116117.de website is also available in English. The police are on 110.
02 Hospital emergency departments
The emergency departments of Berlin's hospitals, often called Rettungsstelle here, are for real emergencies. Serious cases are seen first, so with a minor complaint expect to wait. For anything that is not life-threatening, 116117 is therefore the better first step.
03 Emergency pharmacies
In Germany, prescription medicines are only available from pharmacies. At night, at weekends and on public holidays some pharmacies are on emergency duty, and which ones changes daily. The current list is in the Berlin Chamber of Pharmacists' emergency finder. A German pharmacy can in principle fill a prescription from another EU country, but you pay for the medicine yourself first. If you take medication regularly, pack enough for the whole trip, with the package leaflet.
04 Toothache at the weekend
The emergency dental service is coordinated by the Berlin Association of Statutory Health Insurance Dentists (KZV Berlin). On 030 89004-333 you find out which practices are on duty, and the current schedule is also on the KZV Berlin website. Best call the practice before you go.
05 Poison control
A child got hold of pills or cleaning products, someone ate an unknown mushroom: the Charité poison control center gives advice on 030 19240 day and night, for Berlin and Brandenburg. In case of unconsciousness, seizures or difficulty breathing, call 112 first.
06 Who pays? The European Health Insurance Card
If you have statutory health insurance in an EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland or the United Kingdom, bring the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). According to the European Commission, it covers medically necessary treatment in the state healthcare system under the same conditions as for people insured in Germany. It does not cover private treatment or costs such as the flight home. So show the card at your first contact with a practice or hospital. Without an EHIC, for example as a visitor from outside Europe, you will usually be billed privately for treatment. Before you travel, check whether and how your own health insurance pays for treatment abroad.
Good to know
Save the numbers in your phone before you travel and note the address of your accommodation so you can give it over the phone. If you are out at night, safety tips are in Is Berlin dangerous?. More of the city's emergency services, including crisis lines, are listed by the Senate Department for Health.