Outside regular practice hours, patients and their relatives in Berlin frequently wonder which service is responsible for which concern. The answer depends on the type of symptoms, medical specialty, and urgency. This guide presents the most important emergency services in Berlin side by side, explains their respective responsibilities, and provides clear guidance on which option is right in which situation.
Why there are different emergency services
The German healthcare system has separate emergency structures for different medical specialties and levels of care. Emergency medical services, general practitioner emergency services, dental, ophthalmological, and veterinary emergency services, as well as pharmacy emergency services are organized separately and cannot be reached through a single number. Knowing the areas of responsibility helps you choose the right course of action and saves valuable time.
Life-threatening emergencies — 112
In cases of suspected life-threatening conditions, the emergency medical services at 112 are the only correct contact. This includes loss of consciousness, severe respiratory distress, signs of heart attack or stroke such as sudden one-sided paralysis or speech difficulties, severe uncontrollable bleeding, severe allergic reactions with swelling in the face and throat area, poisoning, and seizures without a known underlying condition. In these situations, every minute counts; calling the emergency doctor service first would be a dangerous delay.
General medical acute care — private and statutory insurance
For acute but non-life-threatening general medical and internal medicine complaints, Berlin has two structures operating in parallel. The statutory health insurance emergency service, available nationwide at 116 117, organizes care for statutory insurance holders through emergency and on-call clinics as well as home visits on a limited basis. In addition, private emergency medical services with home visits offer an alternative, particularly when rapid, scheduled care at home is desired or when waiting times at an emergency clinic are incompatible with your symptoms.
Dental emergency service Berlin
For acute toothache, dental trauma, abscesses, or bleeding following dental procedures, the general emergency service is not responsible—the dental emergency service is. The Association of Statutory Dental Insurance Practitioners in Berlin (KZV Berlin) publishes the on-call dental practice on its website. A general practitioner home visit can provide acute pain medication and assess the symptoms, but does not replace dental treatment.
Ophthalmological emergency service Berlin
Sudden vision problems, flashes of light, blurred vision, eye pain, eye injury, or foreign bodies in the eye should be evaluated by an ophthalmologist or eye clinic. For acute ophthalmological emergencies in Berlin, the eye clinics of Charité (Campus Virchow and Campus Benjamin Franklin) as well as the ophthalmology departments at Vivantes hospitals are available. In cases of suspected retinal detachment or central artery occlusion, immediate presentation at an eye emergency department is necessary.
ENT emergency service Berlin
Acute throat, nasal, or ear complaints can in many cases be assessed and treated from a general medical perspective through a private medical home visit in Berlin. In cases of suspected sudden sensorineural hearing loss, eardrum injury, or unclear one-sided hearing loss, the ENT specialist emergency service or the ENT emergency department of a hospital is responsible.
Pediatric emergency service Berlin
Acute illnesses in children outside consulting hours, such as fever, respiratory infections, ear pain, gastrointestinal complaints, or unexplained rashes, can be treated through the general statutory health insurance emergency service or through a private pediatric emergency service with home visits. In cases of acute life-threatening emergency, such as severe respiratory distress or impaired consciousness, the rule for children also applies: call emergency medical services at 112.
Pharmacy emergency service Berlin
In Berlin, the nearest emergency pharmacy can be found through the nationwide pharmacy search, through the notice posted at your regular pharmacy, or through the Berlin Chamber of Pharmacy. Online, the emergency pharmacy search of the Federal Association of German Pharmacists' Organizations is available. On-call pharmacies fill prescriptions from private medical treatment without delay.
Veterinary emergency service Berlin
Veterinary medical emergencies in Berlin are covered through the emergency service of the Berlin Veterinary Chamber or through veterinary clinics such as the Free University of Berlin, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, and private animal hospitals with round-the-clock availability. The veterinary emergency service is separate from human medical emergency services and uses its own phone numbers.
When RAB is the right contact
The private medical emergency service RAB is designed for general medical and internal medicine acute cases that require medical assessment within a few hours, without immediate life-threatening risk. Typical reasons include febrile infections, acute gastrointestinal complaints, respiratory infections, acute pain, a medical certificate on weekends, issuing a prescription outside practice hours, or an work disability certificate for acute illness. Care is provided through home visits in the patient's familiar surroundings, with typical arrival time of 60 to 90 minutes. English-language care is also available upon request.
Frequently asked questions about emergency services in Berlin
What is the difference between 112 and 116 117? The emergency number 112 is for life-threatening emergencies where an ambulance or emergency physician is needed. The number 116 117 is the nationwide medical emergency service for non-life-threatening but acute complaints outside practice hours.
Is the emergency service free? The statutory health insurance emergency service via 116 117 is covered for statutory insurance holders under standard regulations. A private medical emergency service charges according to the fee schedule for physicians; privately insured patients submit the invoice to their health insurance company.
Can I call 116 117 as a private patient? Yes, the number 116 117 is fundamentally available to everyone. However, privately insured patients typically also have access to a private medical emergency service with home visits, which offers short and scheduled arrival times.
Is there an English-speaking emergency service in Berlin? Yes. An English-speaking private medical home visit is available upon request and is particularly used by international families, business travelers, and hotel guests.
Can I get a prescription and medical certificate through the emergency service? Yes. Both prescriptions and work disability certificates can be issued during the home visit when clinically indicated.
Factual note on use of services
For a private medical assessment with home visit in Berlin, RAB Private Medical Emergency Service is available daily from 6 to 24 o'clock at +49 30 550 77 870. The typical arrival time is 60 to 90 minutes; prescriptions and work disability certificates are issued on-site when clinically indicated. Further information and online appointment scheduling can be found at rab-berlin.de. In cases of signs of acute life-threatening emergency, the emergency medical services at emergency number 112 remain the only correct contact.