The Medical System in Germany

What is GP-centred care?

There is a so-called GP-centred care. This is offered by statutory health insurance funds.

You can participate voluntarily. You then promise your health insurance company that you will only go to certain GPs.

They also promise that you will always go to your GP first before seeing a specialist. You will then receive a referral from your GP.

There are exceptions to these rules. These include ophthalmologists, gynaecologists and paediatricians.

Your health insurance company will explain GP-centred care to you.

What are medical specialists?

A medical specialist has studied medicine. After that, they have completed further training. Each specialist is an expert in a particular medical field.

There are many different specialists. For example, an eye specialist or a skin specialist.
A family doctor is also a specialist. General practitioners are specialists in general medicine.

So that you know which doctor is responsible for which illness, the GP is the right first point of contact. The GP will tell you exactly which specialist you need to see.