Health Care System
Unlike other countries healthcare and doctor visits are not regularly available in hospitals, which are only for emergencies and special treatments.
If you get sick your first contact will be your general physician (Allgemeinarzt). He/She will do the general check up and transfer you to a special physician if necessary.
Your public health insurance covers the basic needs, i.e. health, dental and vision. Additional benefits of some insurances include free professional teeth cleaning, travel vaccinations and other health enhancements. (You might need to pay in advance and get the fee reimbursed by your insurance company)
The most common contacted specialists are
- Pediatrician (Kinderarzt)- general physician for children and teens up to 18 years
- Dentist (Zahnarzt)
- Hals-Nasen-Ohrenarzt (HNO) - a specialist that deals with the ears, airways, as well as the oral cavity, pharynx, larynx and esophagus.
- Orthopedics (Orthopäde) - is the medical specialty that deals with the development, prevention, detection and treatment of diseases of the musculoskeletal system. This includes the bones, joints, muscles and tendons. (transfer referral from general physician needed)
- Physiotherapist (Physiotherapeut)- They perform targeted individual and group therapies with patients, such as exercises with equipment, treatments in the form of respiratory therapy, massages, electro therapies, and heat or hydrotherapies .
- Gynecologist (Gynäkologe)- Diseases of the female sexual organs including the breast, Contraception and family planning, Early detection of cancer, Menstrual and menopausal problems, Female sexuality, Pregnancy and childbirth.
- Urologist (Urologe) - The urology specialist specializes in diseases of the male genital tract and urinary tract. Typical tasks are the diagnosis and treatment of urinary tract infections, inflammation of the renal pelvis, erectile dysfunction or screening for prostate cancer.