New telephone number for doctors on call

Health care: Nationwide new phone number for medical service on the phone 116 117.

(14.07.2010) From the coming year 2011, there will be a nationwide phone number for the medical on-call service. Probably the new number 116 117 will be released from January 2011. The new telephone number for the medical emergency service is to apply according to the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Brandenburg Germany-wide for both mobile and landline. It also includes all Festnet and mobile operators.

As of January 2011, nationwide "Tel. 116 117" applies to the medical emergency service. In order to avoid ambiguity in the future, which number now applies in which city or municipality. So far, for example, there were 72 different numbers for the state of Brandenburg alone, under which patients could reach the medical on-call service. Thanks to the uniform number, patients now know all over Germany, no matter where they are, which number they have to dial.

The medical emergency service is called, if you are in a non-life-threatening health situation, ie no emergency or ambulance needed. These include, for example, symptoms such as fever, chills or severe colds. The phone number is switched on in the evening, at night and on the weekend, that is, when no regular family doctors have opened more. Nationwide, the medical emergency service was called about eight million times last year. In life-threatening situations, the speed dial 112 still applies.

Pioneer for the idea of ​​a nationally standardized phone number is the Kassenärztliche Vereinigung Brandenburg. Back in 2007, the idea of ​​a single number was submitted to the European Union (EU). The EU is responsible for allowing the issue of speed dial numbers. The EU reserved the number "116 117" following an audit last year. Under the leadership of the Kassenärztliche associations the implementation is now completed. Perspectively it should give a uniform call number also in completely Europe. So far, however, it is not known from when that should happen. From January, the Kassenärztliche on call service is available at 116117. Until then, the existing extension numbers still apply. (Sb)

Picture: Andreas Morlok