The weekend medical on-call service is the statutory system that covers acute, non-life-threatening illness outside regular practice hours – in Berlin reachable through the nationwide number 116 117, staffed around the clock 365 days a year. Most of the more than 2,000 GPs in Berlin close on Friday at midday and do not reopen until Monday. This guide explains which points of contact actually help on Saturday, Sunday and public holidays, how you can still obtain a sick note at the weekend, and when the private home visit from RAB Arztbesuche – daily 6 a.m. to midnight, usually within 60 to 90 minutes – is the better alternative.
Which number at the weekend? 116 117, 112 or a private doctor
The right point of contact depends solely on how severe your symptoms are, not on the day of the week. For life-threatening symptoms – unconsciousness, suspected heart attack or stroke, severe shortness of breath, uncontrollable bleeding – only the emergency number 112 applies; here every minute counts. For acute but stable complaints such as high fever, severe abdominal pain, migraine or a gastrointestinal infection, the statutory on-call service on 116 117 is responsible and refers you free of charge to an on-call practice or the mobile home-visit service. If you want a fast, personal home visit without a waiting room, you can reach the private on-call service RAB on +49 30 550 77 870.
- 112 – emergency services: life-threatening emergencies (heart attack, stroke, serious accidents, respiratory distress). Around the clock.
- 116 117 – statutory on-call service: acute, non-life-threatening illness outside surgery hours; free for those with statutory insurance; refers you to a practice or home visit.
- +49 30 550 77 870 – RAB Arztbesuche: private home visit, daily 6 a.m. to midnight, usually 60 to 90 minutes' arrival time, billed under the GOÄ medical fee schedule.
Is any GP open at the weekend?
Regular GP and specialist practices in Berlin generally have no surgery hours on Saturday and Sunday – only very few of the city's 2,000-plus GPs offer occasional Saturday consultations, usually in the morning and quickly booked out. Whether your own practice is one of them is shown on its website or answering machine, which often also points to the responsible substitute or on-call service. You should not rely on this: the backbone of weekend care is the on-call service organised through 116 117, in which the registered doctors take turns on duty.
The KV on-call practices in Berlin
Reliably open at the weekend are the on-call practices of the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KV) Berlin, which treat acute cases without an appointment. KV Berlin runs several walk-in centres for adults plus separate paediatric on-call practices, often attached to hospitals – for example at the DRK Kliniken Westend (Charlottenburg), the Charité Virchow (Wedding) or Vivantes sites. Opening hours are usually Saturday, Sunday and public holidays between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. (until 9 p.m. in the winter months); on Fridays on-call consultations often start from 3 p.m. Which practice is currently open you can find out via 116 117 or online at 116117.de. At the weekend you should expect a high volume of patients and corresponding waiting times.
Waiting times and costs compared
With the statutory home-visit service via 116 117, a doctor's arrival can take between one and four hours depending on demand – for those with statutory insurance this care is free, as the health funds settle it via the insurance card. A private home visit from RAB, by contrast, usually happens within 60 to 90 minutes and is billed under the official medical fee schedule (GOÄ); depending on the time of day, day of the week and distance, a weekend visit typically costs between 150 and 300 euros, since the GOÄ adds weekend, night and public-holiday surcharges. Privately insured patients and those entitled to civil-servant aid (Beihilfe) are usually fully reimbursed; those with statutory insurance can use RAB as self-payers, though reimbursement by the statutory fund is not provided for. The price includes travel, examination, consultation and the issuing of necessary documents; additional services such as infusions, rapid tests or an ECG are billed separately under the GOÄ.
Sick notes at the weekend – the rules
A sick note at the weekend is legally valid without restriction, because incapacity for work is determined by medical criteria – regardless of the day of the week. The basis is the incapacity-for-work directive of the Federal Joint Committee, which expressly does not exclude weekends and public holidays. The certificate is valid from the day the doctor establishes incapacity and also covers the following working day if the illness continues. Both the on-call doctor and RAB can issue a valid certificate of incapacity for work during a home visit. Since the introduction of the electronic certificate (eAU) on 1 January 2023, the sick note is transmitted digitally to the health fund for those with statutory insurance; you must still inform your employer of the illness yourself without delay. Anyone who only sees a doctor on Monday risks gaps: a backdated sick note is permitted only within narrow limits, as a rule up to three calendar days.
When the private home visit is the better choice
When you are ill you need rest – not a journey and a waiting room. RAB Arztbesuche has been active in Berlin for over 15 years and, as a private on-call service, comes directly to your home, office or hotel, on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, daily between 6 a.m. and midnight. On site, a licensed physician carries out a full examination – including blood pressure and blood sugar measurement, ECG, ultrasound and blood draws – prescribes medication, sets up infusions where needed, and issues prescriptions as well as a certificate of incapacity for work. On your first call you speak directly to medical staff, with no call centre; advice is available in German and English, which is especially helpful for families, working professionals, seniors as well as expats and tourists. You can arrange an appointment by phone on +49 30 550 77 870 or directly through the online booking.
Frequently asked questions about a doctor at the weekend
Which number do I call at the weekend when my GP is closed?
For acute but non-life-threatening complaints, dial the nationwide 116 117, which refers you around the clock to an on-call practice or a home visit. For life-threatening symptoms such as shortness of breath, severe chest pain or suspected stroke, call the emergency number 112 immediately. If you would like a fast private home visit, you can reach RAB daily from 6 a.m. to midnight on +49 30 550 77 870.
Can I be signed off sick on a Saturday or Sunday?
Yes, a sick note at the weekend is fully valid, because incapacity for work is determined by medical criteria regardless of the day of the week. Both the statutory on-call service and RAB issue a certificate of incapacity for work where there is a medical indication. It is valid from the day of examination and also covers the following Monday if the illness persists.
What does a private home visit cost at the weekend?
A weekend visit from RAB usually costs between 150 and 300 euros depending on the time of day, day of the week and distance, billed under the medical fee schedule (GOÄ) including weekend, night and public-holiday surcharges. Travel, examination, consultation and the issuing of a prescription or sick note are included; additional services such as infusions or an ECG are billed separately. Privately insured patients and those entitled to Beihilfe are usually reimbursed in full.
Can people with statutory insurance use RAB at the weekend?
Yes, those with statutory insurance can use RAB at any time as self-payers – which makes sense when the on-call service on 116 117 is heavily loaded or you cannot leave home for medical reasons. As this is a private medical service, reimbursement by the statutory health fund is not provided for. You receive a transparent invoice under the GOÄ and can pay by cash, debit or credit card directly on site.
Will I also get a prescription and medication at the weekend?
Yes, both the on-call doctor and RAB issue a prescription where medically necessary, which you can fill at an emergency pharmacy. Which pharmacy near you is on emergency duty you can find out nationwide on 0800 00 22833, via the SMS service on 22833, or directly from the treating doctor. RAB can often prescribe the necessary medication directly or arrange its delivery.
When should I call 112 instead of 116 117?
Call the emergency services on 112 whenever there is, or may be, a danger to life. Typical emergencies are sudden severe shortness of breath, persistent chest pain with suspected heart attack, signs of a stroke, unconsciousness, heavy uncontrollable bleeding or serious injuries. In these cases do not lose time on research – the 112 control centre is staffed around the clock.
What is a doctor allowed to do on a weekend?
On a weekend a physician may do everything permitted on a weekday: examine, diagnose, issue prescriptions, sign people off sick, treat wounds and refer to hospital. Medical licensure does not pause at the weekend. The on-call focus is acute complaints, while planned check-ups remain for a regular practice appointment.