Integrated emergency centres (Integrierte Notfallzentren, INZ) are meant to bring care for acute complaints together at one site, whether you need a hospital, an emergency practice or a telephone assessment. The Bundestag passed the reform of emergency care, which includes the INZ, on 15 October 2026. This guide explains what an INZ consists of, what is meant to change for patients and which points are still open.
Short answer: An integrated emergency centre combines, at one hospital site, the emergency department, an emergency practice run by the Kassenärztliche Vereinigung (statutory physicians’ association) and a central triage point. The three components are digitally linked. The Bundestag passed the reform on 15 October 2026. The German Federal Ministry of Health does not give a date for entry into force (last updated: 15 October 2026).
The most important points at a glance
- An INZ brings the emergency department, the emergency practice and triage together at one site.
- The centres are to be set up across the country at selected hospitals.
- An INZ does not replace your family doctor. It only provides the urgently necessary first care.
- The Bundestag passed the reform on 15 October 2026. The source does not date its entry into force.
- In a life-threatening emergency, 112 remains the right call. The number 116117 is being reorganised.
What is an integrated emergency centre?
An integrated emergency centre is a network of three components at one site, digitally linked with each other. The idea is to settle responsibility at one point before patients are referred on. The table shows the task of each component.
| Component | Task | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Hospital emergency department | Acute care in the hospital, including serious cases | Part of the INZ, remains based in the hospital |
| Emergency practice of the KV | First care outside regular surgery hours | Supported at times set by law |
| Central triage | Assesses urgency and refers to the right service | Digitally linked with the emergency department and the emergency practice |
The Federal Ministry of Health describes INZ as facilities that are open around the clock. The KV emergency practice takes over part of the care at the times set by law. An INZ is therefore not simply a new name for the emergency department, but a combination of several services at one place.
What role does central triage play?
The triage point is the part of the INZ that receives your concern first. It is meant to assess how urgent a complaint is and which service is responsible. The aim is to stop cases from ending up in the emergency department when a practice or an emergency practice could treat them. The source does not describe in detail how triage works in each case, so expect an assessment before treatment begins.
What does this mean for patients?
For people with symptoms, the route to the right service changes first, not the emergency number. 112 stays directly reachable for emergencies that threaten life, and the rescue control centre remains the first contact in such a case. The reorganisation mainly concerns calls and visits for less urgent concerns. You can read how to tell the two numbers apart in the guide on 112 and 116117.
For the acute control centre of the Kassenärztliche Vereinigung under 116117, the source provides that it takes over the tasks of the current appointment service in acute case placement. It is to become the central point of the triage procedure. Telephone or telemedical advice should be possible around the clock, including by video. The source also sets out answering targets: 75 percent of calls within 3 minutes and 90 percent within 10 minutes.
An emergency practice is not a place for routine appointments. It is meant for acute concerns that arise outside a practice’s opening hours and cannot wait until the next working day. Knowing this in advance makes the decision in a stressful situation easier, because you do not have to search first for where to turn.
Which contacts remain important?
Your family doctor stays the first contact for ongoing care. An INZ is meant for acute first care and does not replace the practice. If you have a chronic condition, keep booking appointments with your practice. For specialist appointments, the guide on booking through 116117 is the better starting point.
Status of the reform: what is decided and what is open?
The table separates the confirmed information from the open points. The law as promulgated remains decisive in each case.
| Point | Status according to the source | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency reform overall | Passed by the Bundestag on 15 October 2026 | BMG, last updated 15 October 2026 |
| Entry into force | No date given. Until then, the current rules apply. | Federal Law Gazette after promulgation |
| Expansion of INZ | Planned across the country at selected hospitals | BMG, last updated 15 October 2026 |
| Link between 112 and 116117 | Digitally linked, binding agreement on who takes which case | BMG, last updated 15 October 2026 |
The source gives no number of sites. If you want to know which INZ is planned in your region, ask the responsible Kassenärztliche Vereinigung or the hospital.
Frequently asked questions
Does an INZ replace my family doctor?
No. According to the Federal Ministry of Health, the INZ provides only the urgently necessary first care. Further treatment remains with the practice that is responsible for you.
Is an INZ the same as an emergency department?
No. The emergency department is one component of the INZ. The emergency practice of the Kassenärztliche Vereinigung and the central triage point are added to it. All three are digitally linked and work together under a fixed agreement.
Are INZ already available everywhere?
No. The centres are to be set up across the country at selected hospitals. The responsible Kassenärztliche Vereinigung and the individual hospital can tell you which sites are already operating.
When does the reform take effect?
The Bundestag passed the law on 15 October 2026. The Federal Ministry of Health does not name a date for entry into force. You will find the exact date in the Federal Law Gazette once the law has been promulgated.
What should I do with acute symptoms until the reform applies?
Until entry into force, the current rules apply. In a life-threatening emergency, call 112. For non-life-threatening symptoms, your family doctor is the right first step, and outside surgery hours the number 116117.
What does this mean for students?
If you move for your studies or live in a new city, look up the nearest emergency department and emergency practice once yourself. A visit to the website of the responsible Kassenärztliche Vereinigung and the map of the hospital is enough. Anyone who does this in advance does not have to search for long in an emergency. This step is especially useful for short stays in an unfamiliar city.
What you should do now
- Save 112 for life-threatening emergencies in your phone and know the number 116117 for urgent complaints outside surgery hours.
- Look up the nearest emergency department and emergency practice before you need them.
- For non-life-threatening complaints, start with your family doctor.
- Follow the status of the law on the website of the Federal Ministry of Health until an entry date is fixed.
Related reading
- Emergency reform 2027: the new rules for emergency departments and out-of-hours care
- 112 or 116117: the right number in an emergency
- Faster specialist appointments: using the 116117 service
- Do I have to see my GP first? The primary care system explained
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
