Doctors and Pharmacies

Health
Health insurance varies from country to country. Here too. We cannot give you details regarding all eventualities but we can give you an important first overview and some general information in the sitebar.

Pharmacist
In Germany medicine is dispensed only at pharmacies or over the internet. For some drugs you may need a prescription from the doctor treating you. Many medicines can also be bought without prescription and pharmacists are always there to offer help and advice.

Consultation with a medical practitioner
In Germany medical practitioners are divided into family doctors (general medicine) and specialists (ophthalmologist, skin specialists etc.). These doctors’ surgeries have different consulting times. If you cannot reach your doctor at night, on the week-end or on Wednesday afternoons you can contact the medical emergency service (“ärztlichen Notdienst”).

Medical emergency service
Emergency numbers for Wolfsburg, Braunschweig and Gifhorn are provided in the sidebar.

Hospital
If you need treatment or an operation at a hospital you will need a referral either from your family doctor or a specialist. That is unless it is an emergency which requires immediate admittance to hospital.

Acute emergency
An acute emergency is all illness or injury so severe that medical attention is needed immediately. In case of emergency please phone 112. The number 112 can be dialled without area code throughout Germany either on a mobile phone or landline. Describe the type of emergency as accurately as possible. You will also have to give your name and whereabouts.