RAB Arztbesuche is a private medical home-visit service in Berlin that dispatches a licensed, English-speaking physician to your home, hotel or office, usually within 60 to 90 minutes, daily from 6 a.m. to midnight. For the roughly hundreds of thousands of expats, international students and millions of tourists who pass through Berlin each year, falling ill without fluent German can turn a simple infection into a stressful ordeal. This guide explains how to see an English-speaking doctor in Berlin, when to use the public emergency numbers 112 and 116 117, how a private home visit works, what it costs under the German GOÄ fee schedule, and how international and travel insurers reimburse it.
Who needs an English-speaking doctor in Berlin?
Anyone who needs urgent but non-emergency medical care and cannot describe symptoms confidently in German benefits from an English-speaking doctor. Berlin is an international metropolis, and while many physicians in central districts speak at least basic English, availability is never guaranteed at a walk-in practice on a Saturday evening. Clear communication is not a comfort factor: describing symptoms accurately, understanding a diagnosis, and following medication instructions all depend on a shared language, and misunderstandings directly affect treatment safety.
The typical patient is an expat without a registered Hausarzt (general practitioner), a tourist or business traveller staying in a hotel, an international student, or an embassy or visiting family member. Common reasons for a call include fever and flu-like infections, sore throat and tonsillitis, ear infections, gastrointestinal complaints such as vomiting or diarrhoea, urinary tract infections, allergic reactions and skin rashes, back or joint pain, migraine, and flare-ups of chronic conditions such as asthma, COPD or high blood pressure.
Emergency or urgent care? Knowing 112 from 116 117
The single most important distinction in Germany is between a life-threatening emergency and an urgent but stable condition. Get this right and you reach the correct care in minutes instead of being redirected while unwell.
112, life-threatening emergencies
Dial 112 immediately, free of charge and 24 hours a day, for severe chest pain or suspected heart attack, difficulty breathing or a severe asthma attack, sudden weakness, slurred speech or other stroke symptoms, unconsciousness or seizure, heavy bleeding, or a major injury or severe allergic reaction. Berlin ambulances are well equipped and major hospital emergency departments (Notaufnahme) typically have English-speaking staff. In a genuine emergency, never hesitate (112 is faster than any private service.
116 117) the public medical on-call service
Call 116 117 for urgent but not life-threatening problems outside regular practice hours, high fever, severe diarrhoea, persistent vomiting, a painful ear infection or a very heavy cold. This free national hotline directs you to a nearby out-of-hours clinic (Notdienstpraxis) or, if you cannot leave your accommodation, can arrange a home visit. The service runs 24/7, but operators mostly speak German with limited English, and waiting times can run to several hours, especially at weekends and at night. For immobile statutory-insured patients, the Kassenärztliche Vereinigung also runs a home-visit line at 030 310031.
What "urgent care" means in the German system
Germany does not use the term "urgent care clinic" the way English-speaking countries do; instead, care is organised in tiers. During office hours you see a general practitioner or specialist by appointment. Outside those hours, the on-call service on 116 117 takes over, hospital emergency departments handle serious cases, and private home-visit services operate across the city. What international patients describe as a "walk-in clinic" usually corresponds to a Notdienstpraxis, an out-of-hours practice that you attend in person without an appointment.
Walk-in clinics treat mild to moderate conditions such as colds, sore throats and minor infections, and require no appointment, useful if you are mobile and have time to wait. The limitations matter, though: waiting times are long during flu season, on Mondays and after public holidays; English-speaking staff are not guaranteed; and consultations are often brief due to high patient volume. For severe symptoms (chest pain, shortness of breath, neurological deficits, very high fever) a walk-in clinic is the wrong choice, and you should call 112 or 116 117 instead.
The private home visit: how RAB Arztbesuche works
A private home visit means a licensed physician comes to you, eliminating travel while sick and any waiting room. RAB Arztbesuche dispatches doctors throughout the Berlin metropolitan area every day from 6 a.m. to midnight, and the service is open to everyone regardless of insurance status or nationality. When you call +49 30 550 77 870 you speak directly with medical staff, not an anonymous call centre.
The process is structured and transparent across five steps:
- Call or book online: give your location, a short description of symptoms, and your insurance status on +49 30 550 77 870.
- Medical callback: a doctor calls you back shortly to assess urgency and prepare for the visit.
- Doctor on the way: within 60 to 90 minutes a physician arrives with a fully equipped medical bag.
- Examination and treatment: a thorough check-up on site, with prescriptions, medication or infusion therapy as needed.
- Documentation: you receive an invoice and, if required, a sick note or medical certificate, in English on request.
Doctors carry diagnostic equipment including a portable ECG and ultrasound, blood and urine tests, and can provide infusions, pain management, wound care and antibiotics on site. They issue standard German prescriptions valid at any pharmacy nationwide, organise pharmacy delivery to your address if you are too unwell to leave, and (if hospital care becomes necessary) coordinate admission and supply a detailed medical report for continuity of care.
Costs and insurance reimbursement under GOÄ
RAB Arztbesuche bills according to the GOÄ (Gebührenordnung für Ärzte), Germany's official medical fee schedule. The exact amount depends on the time of day, day of the week and scope of service; night, evening and weekend surcharges are regulated by law and shown transparently. For self-paying patients a visit typically ranges from about €150 to €300 depending on time and distance, with no hidden fees, payable on site by cash, EC card or credit card via a mobile terminal.
Privately insured patients are generally reimbursed in full according to their tariff, ask your insurer in advance whether home visits and out-of-hours consultations are included. Tourists and visitors should keep the invoice: most travel insurance policies cover urgent medical visits abroad, and many international insurers reimburse home visits in full. EU citizens hold the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) for basic care, but private home-visit services generally require payment upfront with separate reimbursement afterwards. On request, the diagnosis, treatment plan, prescriptions and invoice are issued in English to simplify processing with a foreign employer or insurer.
English documentation: sick notes, prescriptions and Fit-to-Fly
RAB Arztbesuche physicians are fully licensed in Germany and issue official documentation accepted nationwide. A sick note (Arbeitsunfähigkeitsbescheinigung, or AU) is accepted by all German employers and insurers; the electronic version (eAU) can be transmitted directly to a statutory insurer where applicable, and you keep a printed copy. Prescriptions for prescription-only medication, antibiotics, pain relief and asthma inhalers are issued during the visit and are valid at any licensed pharmacy in Germany.
On request the doctor provides documents in both German and English, particularly useful for international patients forwarding paperwork to a foreign employer or insurer. Special-purpose certificates are available too, including Fit-to-Fly (travel-incapacity) certificates, school or kindergarten exemptions and fitness assessments. In the event of a death while travelling, the legally required examination and death certificate (Totenschein) can be performed; this service is not covered by health insurance and is billed under GOÄ.
Why expats and visitors choose a private home visit
A home visit combines convenience, privacy and speed in ways a public clinic cannot during a short stay. There is no journey across the city while feverish, no crowded waiting room, no contact with other patients carrying infections, and no uncertainty about whether the doctor speaks your language. Treatment happens in your own room, the consultation is unhurried, and documentation can be handed over in English on the spot.
This matters most for the groups that use the service daily: business travellers on tight schedules, parents with small children, elderly patients with limited mobility, and anyone with an infectious complaint who should not be sitting in a public waiting area. Several RAB physicians also speak Spanish, French, Italian, Russian or Polish, mention your preferred language when booking so the dispatch team can match you with the right doctor. A private home visit complements, but never replaces, the official 112 emergency system.
Frequently asked questions
Do RAB Arztbesuche doctors speak fluent English?
Yes. All physicians and support staff speak fluent English and care for international patients every day, using both everyday and precise medical terminology. On request the diagnosis, treatment plan, prescriptions and invoice are provided in English, which helps with reimbursement through international travel and health insurers. Several doctors additionally speak Spanish, French, Italian, Russian or Polish, mention your preferred language when you book on +49 30 550 77 870 so the dispatch team can match you to a suitable doctor.
How fast does a doctor arrive?
Usually within 60 to 90 minutes of your call or online booking. Arrival is often faster during quieter parts of the day or for visits in central Berlin districts, while busy periods (public holidays, Sunday mornings, late evenings or widespread infection waves) can stretch the wait somewhat. The dispatch team gives a realistic estimate when you book and contacts you proactively if a noticeable delay occurs. For life-threatening symptoms dial 112, as the rescue service is significantly faster.
Do I need German or private health insurance?
No. The service is open to everyone in Berlin, including tourists, business travellers, expats, international students and self-payers without any German insurance. You receive a transparent invoice and pay on site by cash, EC or credit card, then submit it to your private, travel or expat insurer for reimbursement, many international insurers cover home visits in full. Holders of private German insurance are typically reimbursed in full according to their tariff.
What conditions can be treated during a home visit?
Urgent but non-life-threatening conditions, including fever and flu, sore throat and tonsillitis, ear infections, gastrointestinal problems such as vomiting and diarrhoea, urinary tract infections, allergic reactions and skin rashes, back and joint pain, migraine, and flare-ups of chronic conditions such as asthma, COPD or high blood pressure. Minor wounds and burns can be cleaned and dressed on site. Severe or life-threatening symptoms require 112 instead.
Can I get a prescription or a sick note?
Yes. The visiting physician issues standard German prescriptions (including prescription-only medication, antibiotics, pain relief and asthma inhalers) valid at any licensed pharmacy in Germany, and can organise a pharmacy delivery to your address. Official sick notes (AU/eAU) accepted by all German employers and insurers are issued during the visit, and on request you receive documentation in both German and English.
When should I call 112 instead?
Always dial 112 for severe chest pain or suspected heart attack, difficulty breathing or a severe asthma attack, sudden weakness or slurred speech suggesting a stroke, unconsciousness or seizure, heavy bleeding, or a major injury. Emergency services dispatch an ambulance to the nearest hospital within minutes. A private home visit covers urgent but stable situations and does not replace the 112 emergency system.
Book an English-speaking doctor in Berlin
If you need short-notice, non-emergency medical care in Berlin, you can reach RAB Arztbesuche daily from 6 a.m. to midnight on +49 30 550 77 870, and a home or hotel visit can usually take place within 60 to 90 minutes. You can also book your appointment online and receive professional, English-speaking care wherever you are in the city.