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here are some basic phrases and terms to help you on your next general doctor’s visit. 

Making an appointment

A typical conversation to make an appointment will be as follows:

  1. Hallo, my name is Mrs xxx, and I would like to make an appointment with Dr xxx please.  – Hallo, mein Name ist Frau xxx und ich möchte einen Termin vereinbaren
  2. Are you a patient with us – Sind Sie Patient bei uns? 
  3. Yes or No. If No they will ask for your details. They will also ask if you are on public or private medical insurance. 
  4. They will most likely ask what is wrong and whether it is an emergency (Notfall)
  5. They will tell you when the next appointment is available. If it is not an emergency, have a date ready that suits you so you can ask if they can see you then. There are different ways they can say it to you, just listen for the date and time. – an example “der nächste freie Termin ist am 15. Januar um 10:00 Uhr”
  6. You can respond with “das passt, danke” if you are happy with the time and date
  7. If it is an emergency, please refer to our Emergencies page. There are also some emergency phrases you can use

Some common ailments

  • I have injured myself – Ich habe mich verletzt
  • I have an injury on my left arm – Ich habe eine Verletzung am linken Arm
  • I had an accident – Ich hatte einen Unfall
  • I have a headache/fever – Ich habe Kopfschmerzen/Fieber
  • I have a sore throat – Ich habe Halsschmerzen. You can find a good lexicon on Flu here
  • I have a cold- Ich habe eine Erkältung
  • I have pain – Ich habe Schmerzen
  • I am feeling sick – mir ist schlecht

At the Doctor's consulting room

You must report at reception. A typical phrase would be –  Hallo mein Name ist Frau xxx, ich habe um 10 Uhr einen Termin.  
You will most like be asked to wait in the waiting room (das Wartezimmer) – warten Sie bitte im Wartezimmer
You will be called by name when the doctor can see you.

Your consultation

Most doctors can understand basic English so if you really struggle ask if you can describe your symptoms in English.
Have a look at the Terminology pages to help you prepare to describe your body parts in Germany.

If you are referred to a specialist (Facharzt) you will be given a Überweisung.
If you need medicine (Medikamente), you will be given a Rezept which you must take to the Pharmacy (Apotheke).

Sick leave

You do not have to tell your manager or HR department what is wrong with you when you are on sick leave.
You have to let your employer know that you are ill, even if you do not  to the doctor.
If you receive a sicknote, (Krankschreibung/Arbeitsunfähigkeitsbescheinigung/Gelbe Zettel) you have to submit it to your employer as soon as possible, please also refer to your company’s rules. As of 2023 your doctor will send a digital sick note (elektronischen Arbeitsunfähigkeitsbescheinigun or eAU) to your Medical insurance. Your employer will have access to this data. – currently only for public health insurance, private soon to follow.
You can let them know “ich bin krank geschrieben, und werde am 22. Juli wieder im Büro sein”

Tip – Always refer to your employment contract for your company rules and regulations.

“Grundsätzlich gilt gemäß Gesetz, dass bei einer Krankheit, die voraussichtlich länger als drei Tage dauert, eine ärztliche Bescheinigung vorgelegt werden muss, um der Nachweispflicht entsprechend nachzukommen. Diese sollte spätestens am vierten Tag der Krankheit beim Arbeitgeber liegen. Wie Sie dies bewerkstelligen, obliegt Ihnen. In diesem Zusammenhang sind die Kalender- und nicht die Arbeitstage entscheidend.” – Arbeitsrechte

In Germany, you are entitled to 6 weeks of paid sick leave

Disclaimer – The information on this page is based on personal experiences and research, we are not qualified to give any legal advice and we do not accept any form of liability resulting from reading this article.

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Visiting a doctor

Navigating Healthcare in Germany Visiting a doctor in Germany can feel overwhelming at first, but understanding how the system works will help you feel confident and prepared. When I first arrived in Germany, I was fortunate to travel back to South Africa frequently. I relied on that to manage my medical check-ups, avoiding visits to German doctors whenever possible. That strategy worked well—until I hurt my back and had no choice but to seek medical attention locally. Although I could speak German, I struggled to recall the specific terms for body parts and medical conditions, which made communication incredibly challenging. My advice? Don’t wait until an emergency forces you to find a doctor. Start by scheduling your routine check-ups early on—it’s an excellent way to familiarize yourself with the healthcare system and your local medical professionals. German doctors are highly professional and competent, but their approach can feel very business-like compared to what you might be used to in South Africa. They tend to be direct and honest, and they expect you to take responsibility for your health. For example, when I visited an orthopaedist for my back injury, the doctor not only treated me with an injection but also emphasized holistic recovery methods. He was blunt about the need to strengthen my body and even scolded me for not taking better care of myself. It was a stark contrast to the more sympathetic approach I was accustomed to in South Africa. Another important difference is that some German doctors may not accept your medical history from South Africa. Instead, they’ll conduct their own tests before beginning treatment. While this can be frustrating, it also ensures a thorough and accurate diagnosis. If you’re new to Germany, embracing the local healthcare system sooner rather than later can save you a lot of stress down the road. Finding a doctor Finding a doctor in Germany can be challenging, especially if you’re looking for an English-speaking practitioner. Your general practitioner (GP) is called a Hausarzt, and you are free to choose your doctor. However, to see a specialist (Facharzt), you will often need a referral (Überweisung) from your GP. Here are some websites to help with your search: Jameda Med Kolleg Doctolib – You can also book your appointment directly on this platform. Additionally, we have listed some medical professionals on our website, many of whom have a South African background and speak at least one of the official languages. For further recommendations, consider reaching out to local expat communities—they can be a valuable resource for finding trusted doctors. Online Consultations You can talk to a doctor online on Mobi Doctor. They are not covered by medical insurance. 💡 While online doctors can be a convenient option in certain situations, visiting a doctor in person is often essential for a thorough examination and accurate diagnosis. I was having an issue that I just couldn’t get better. I ended up using an online doctor service, and got antibiotics, and was better quick quick. It was about 25€, and I had to pay for meds. The prescriptions are accepted by the pharmacists – you can just show it to them on your phone, no physical print out needed. (Note from admin, this is not always accepted by all pharmacies, some require a printout) Shelley-Ann The prescriptions from online portals are usually accepted when they are issued through secure portals that are communicated directly to the pharmacies email address to avoid fraud. The scripts are usually private scripts so the “gesetzliche Krankenkasse” will not pay for it. They only pay for medicines issued on an official German “Kassenrezept” JulianPharmacist They will only be able to issue private scripts, meaning the Public health insurance will not pay for it. As long as the prescription was issued in an EU Country, you can submit it to a pharmacy in Germany, but you will pay for it yourself. KarelPharmacist Mobi doctor Good to know If you are on the public or Government “gesetzliche Krankenversicherung (GKV) ” health insurance, you must always take your medical card with you to your appointment. Your bills will be sent directly to the insurance. If you are on GVK, make sure that your doctor is registered on the public healthcare system or Kassenärzte and that they accept GVK, some only accept private patients and you will have to pay out of your own pocket if you are on the public health insurance.  If you are privately insured, you will receive a bill which you have to pay and claim back from your insurance. Antibiotics are only used as a last resort, if you have a cold you might get some Aspirin and be told to get some bed rest. German doctors do not have an issue with nakedness and you might be asked to strip down to the basics when you have a more thorough examination like an EKG. Prepare beforehand by writing down what you want to say and translating it into German beforehand. Miscommunication can happen easily when you’re unfamiliar with medical terms, symptoms, or body parts. Check out our related content on medical terminology to help you communicate effectively. Your bill The codes on your bill should correspond to the ICD codes, which is a globally recognized system that is used to label medical diagnoses. You can search the codes hereCancellation of appointmentsIf you cannot make your appointment, cancel as early as possible and make your new appointment right away. Confirm the cancellation by e-mail or in writing. If you do not cancel an appointment in time you can be charged for it, see § 615 BGB (Paragraph 615 of the Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch) Pharmacies In Germany, pain medication that is easily available in South African grocery stores can only be purchased at a pharmacy (Apotheke). Additionally, the rules for over-the-counter medications (Rezeptfrei) are much stricter here.If you have questions about medication, our “Ask a Pharmacist” service connects you with South African pharmacists working in Germany who can provide guidance. To find an emergency pharmacy (Notdienst-Apotheke), you