Falling ill in a foreign country can be unsettling – especially if you don’t speak the language or don’t know where to go. In Berlin, many general practices close early, and hospital emergency rooms are often overcrowded. That’s when RAB Berlin, the city’s private on-call medical service, steps in.
RAB Berlin provides fast, reliable medical care in English – directly at your home, hotel or office. Whether you’re an expat, tourist or business traveler, you can receive professional medical help within hours instead of waiting in line at a hospital.
Medical Care Options in Berlin
In Germany, there’s a clear distinction between emergency care (life-threatening situations) and urgent care (serious but not critical illnesses).
If you experience chest pain, sudden numbness, loss of consciousness, heavy bleeding or severe breathing problems, you must dial 112 immediately.
For all other acute but non-emergency conditions – fever, infection, stomach pain, allergic reactions, back pain – RAB Berlin offers urgent medical assistance right where you are.
Why Choose RAB Berlin
RAB Berlin is a private, English-speaking medical service available every day from 6 a.m. to midnight. Instead of going through a call center or waiting in a hospital, you get personal, discreet and high-quality treatment from licensed physicians.
Key advantages:
- Fast response: A doctor arrives within 60–90 minutes of your call.
- Experienced specialists: All physicians have extensive hospital and clinical backgrounds.
- English-speaking staff: Perfect for expats, tourists and business travelers.
- House calls city-wide: Doctors come to homes, hotels or workplaces across Berlin.
- Transparent costs: Clear pricing based on Germany’s official medical fee schedule (GOÄ).
- Flexible booking: Phone consultation or simple online appointment scheduling.
Common Situations RAB Berlin Handles
RAB Berlin doctors treat a wide range of non-life-threatening but urgent conditions, including:
- High fever, cough or flu-like infections
- Sore throat, tonsillitis and ear infections
- Gastrointestinal issues such as nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea
- Urinary tract infections and abdominal pain
- Allergic reactions or skin rashes
- Back pain, joint or muscle inflammation
- Migraine or stress-related headaches
- Worsening of chronic conditions (asthma, COPD, hypertension)
If hospital care becomes necessary, RAB Berlin coordinates your admission and provides a detailed medical report for continuity of care.
How the Process Works
- Call or book online: Provide your symptoms, location and insurance details.
- Medical callback: A doctor contacts you shortly to assess the urgency.
- Doctor on the way: Within 60–90 minutes, a specialist arrives with medical equipment.
- Examination and treatment: Comprehensive check-up, prescription or infusion therapy on site.
- Documentation: You receive an invoice and, if required, a medical certificate or sick note.
Everything happens in English, clearly explained and confidential.
Costs and Insurance
RAB Berlin charges according to the German medical fee schedule (GOÄ).
- Privately insured patients: Fees are reimbursed by the insurance provider.
- Self-paying visitors: Receive a transparent invoice, payable by card or cash.
- Travel insurance: Most travel policies cover urgent medical visits – keep your invoice for reimbursement.
Prices typically range from €190 to €250 depending on time and distance. There are no hidden fees.
When to Dial 112
Always call 112 if you or someone nearby experiences:
- Chest pain or suspected heart attack
- Difficulty breathing or severe asthma attack
- Sudden paralysis, slurred speech or stroke symptoms
- Loss of consciousness or seizure
- Heavy bleeding or major injury
Emergency services will dispatch an ambulance to the nearest hospital. RAB Berlin complements, but does not replace, the official emergency system.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Do RAB Berlin doctors speak fluent English?
Yes. All physicians and support staff at RAB Berlin speak fluent English and are accustomed to caring for international patients on a daily basis. They are comfortable using both colloquial English and precise medical terminology, which is essential when discussing symptoms, diagnoses, medication and treatment options. We regularly look after tourists, business travellers, embassy staff, expats, international students and visiting families who live in Berlin short- or long-term. On request we provide the diagnosis, treatment plan, prescriptions and invoice in English — useful both for your own records and for reimbursement through international travel and health insurers. Several physicians additionally speak Spanish, French, Italian, Russian or Polish. Please mention your preferred language when booking so that our dispatch team can match you with a doctor whose language skills best fit your situation, preventing any misunderstanding about your treatment.
Can I get medication or a prescription?
Yes. The visiting RAB Berlin physician can issue all standard German prescriptions directly during the home visit, including prescriptions for prescription-only medication, antibiotics, pain relief, asthma inhalers and many other commonly needed drugs. For acutely required medication, the doctor either provides a small starter dose from the medical bag on site or directs you to the nearest emergency pharmacy (Notdienst-Apotheke), which is reachable around the clock. On request, we organise a pharmacy delivery directly to your address — particularly useful if you are too unwell to leave home. Controlled substances (Betäubungsmittel) follow strict German legal rules and are issued only after careful medical assessment of the indication. Repeat prescriptions for ongoing medication can also be issued if your medical history justifies them. All prescriptions are valid throughout Germany and can be filled at any licensed pharmacy.
Can I receive a sick note for work?
Yes. RAB Berlin physicians are fully licensed in Germany and may issue official sick notes (Arbeitsunfähigkeitsbescheinigung, commonly abbreviated AU) that are accepted by all German employers, statutory health insurers and private insurers. The electronic sick note (eAU) can be transmitted directly to your statutory health insurance company if applicable, and you receive a printed copy for your own records and for your employer. First-time and follow-up certificates are possible, as are special-purpose certificates — for example travel-incapacity certificates, school or kindergarten attendance exemptions, sports excuses or fitness assessments for certain activities. On request we issue the document in both German and English, which is particularly helpful for international patients or when forwarding documentation to a foreign employer or insurer. The duration of the sick note is determined individually based on examination findings and the expected recovery time.
How long does it take for a doctor to arrive?
Usually a RAB Berlin physician reaches you within 60 to 90 minutes after the initial phone call or online booking. During quieter parts of the day or for visits in central Berlin districts the arrival is often faster, while particularly busy times — public holidays, Sunday mornings, late evenings or widespread infection waves — can stretch the waiting time to about two hours. Our dispatch team gives you a realistic time estimate at the moment of booking and proactively gets in touch with you if any noticeable delay occurs. The service vehicles carry a fully equipped medical bag with diagnostics, common medications and basic emergency equipment, so the consultation can begin immediately on arrival. For life-threatening symptoms please dial 112 — the emergency rescue service is significantly faster and is the right contact for acute emergencies; RAB Berlin focuses on urgent but non-life-threatening situations.
Do I need private health insurance?
No. You do not need private health insurance to use RAB Berlin. The service is open to everyone in Berlin — including tourists, business travellers, expats, international students, families and self-payers without any German insurance. You receive a transparent, easy-to-understand invoice after the consultation and can pay directly on site in cash, by EC card or by credit card; the vehicles are equipped with mobile card terminals. The invoice can subsequently be submitted to your private health insurer, employer, travel insurer or expat insurance for reimbursement, and many international insurers cover such home visits in full. On request we issue all documentation in English to simplify processing abroad. If you do hold private German health insurance, the invoice is typically reimbursed in full according to your tariff — please ask your insurer in advance whether home visits and out-of-hours consultations are included.
Why Expats and Visitors Prefer RAB Berlin
- No language barrier – clear communication in English.
- No long waiting times in crowded emergency rooms.
- Comfortable treatment in your own environment.
- Professional doctors with international experience.
- Personal, respectful and confidential service.
Whether you’ve just moved to Berlin or are here for a few days, RAB Berlin ensures you get the same medical quality you would expect at home.
Conclusion
Being ill abroad can be stressful, but getting help doesn’t have to be. RAB Berlin makes urgent medical care simple, fast and personal – directly at your location.
With English-speaking doctors, transparent pricing and rapid response, you can feel safe and cared for, wherever you are in Berlin.
If you need medical assistance, you can reach RAB Berlin every day from 6 a.m. to midnight at
030 550 77 870
or book your appointment online at
https://rab-arztbesuche.berlin/online-buchen/.
RAB Berlin doctors usually arrive within 60–90 minutes – bringing professional medical care straight to your door.