The German emergency care reform 2027 sets out how hospital emergency rooms, on-call medical practices and the number 116117 are to work together. The Bundestag passed the law on 15 October 2026. This guide explains the changes and links all articles in our topic group on the health system, from sick notes to organ donation. The linked articles are currently available in German only.
Short answer: The Bundestag passed the German emergency care reform on 15 October 2026 (last updated: November 2026). Its core elements are integrated emergency centres (Integrierte Notfallzentren, INZ), where a hospital emergency room and an on-call practice run by the Kassenärztliche Vereinigung (KV, statutory health insurance physicians’ association) work at one site, and the split of the number 116117 into an appointment service and an acute care line. The ministry’s announcement gives no fixed start date.
Key points
- The Bundestag passed the law on 15 October 2026. The Bundesrat had already issued its opinion on the draft in June 2026.
- Integrated emergency centres (INZ) are to become the central point of contact for people facing a medical emergency.
- The number 116117 will be split into an appointment service and an acute care line.
- Patients can be referred to the KV on-call practice at the INZ.
- In a life-threatening emergency, 112 remains the right number.
- The law takes effect after promulgation in the Federal Law Gazette (Bundesgesetzblatt). No fixed date appears in the materials.
What changes for emergency rooms and on-call care?
The reform relies on shared points of contact. An integrated emergency centre combines a hospital emergency room, an on-call practice run by the KV and a central triage service at one site. The article on integrated emergency centres (in German) explains how this is meant to work.
| Situation | First point of contact | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Life-threatening condition | 112 | Call the ambulance service immediately |
| Urgent complaints, practice not reachable | 116117 | Planned to be split into appointment service and acute care line |
| Acute complaints outside surgery hours | KV on-call practice | Provided for at an INZ where one exists |
| Injury or illness needing inpatient care | Hospital emergency room | At an INZ site, linked to the on-call practice |
- When to call 112 and when 116117: the right number in an emergency (in German)
- Emergency reform 2027: which medicines on-call practices may dispense (in German)
- Partial on-call service at pharmacies: what patients need to know (in German)
- Service groups in hospitals: which clinic is responsible (in German)
- Hospital reform: what patients can expect (in German)
How do I get a specialist appointment faster?
The appointment service will become a separate part of the number 116117. The article on getting a specialist appointment faster describes the steps. Whether this shortens waiting times is not yet established by the reform.
What changes for sick notes?
Whether and how sick notes by phone or online will change is the subject of proposals. The articles in this section cover the process for employees and employers, the deadlines towards employer and health insurer, and the planned changes with their current status.
- Telephone sick notes: planned abolition and what applies until then
- Sick note from the first day: do I have to see a doctor right away?
- Online-Krankschreibung per Fragebogen: Warum sie verboten werden soll
- Sick leave notification: deadlines for employer and health insurer
- Continued pay during illness in Germany: how long the employer pays
- Teilkrankengeld 2027: Was bei Teil-Arbeitsunfähigkeit gilt (in German)
- Karenztag einführen: Was Beschäftigte am ersten Krankheitstag verlieren (in German)
When should I see a GP first?
The role the family doctor should play in future is a separate question. The articles in this section explain referrals, choice of doctor, the bonus booklet and everyday questions about care, each with date and source.
- Do I Have to See a Family Doctor First? Primary Care Explained
- Hausarzt-Überweisung für den Facharzt: Brauche ich sie? (in German)
- Gibt es 2026 noch eine Praxisgebühr? Was Patienten heute zahlen (in German)
- Apotheke statt Arzt bei leichten Erkrankungen: Was erlaubt ist (in German)
- Bonusheft beim Zahnarzt: Was Studierende damit bekommen (in German)
- Impfungen für das Auslandssemester: Was die Kasse zahlt (in German)
What changes for e-prescriptions and the electronic patient record?
The electronic patient record (ePA) and the e-prescription change how patients use information and prescriptions. The articles show step by step how to redeem an e-prescription without the app, what is stored in the ePA and which objection options exist.
- Opting out of the ePA (electronic patient record): step by step
- Redeem an e-prescription without the app: step by step
- E-Rezept per Post bestellen: Versandapotheke und Ablauf (in German)
- Was in der ePA steht und wer darauf zugreifen darf (in German)
- ePA-Pflicht für Arztpraxen: Was sich für Patienten ändert (in German)
- Apothekenreform 2026: Was sich für Patienten ändert (in German)
- Digitale Gesundheitskarte per App: Ersatz für die Plastikkarte? (in German)
What applies to organ donation?
The opt-out model has been debated for some time. The articles in this section explain how to complete the donor card, how to enter the register, where an objection applies and how brain death is determined in hospital.
- Opt-out model for organ donation: what would change
- Organspendeausweis ausfüllen: Schritt für Schritt (in German)
- Organspende-Register online eintragen: So geht es (in German)
- Organspende widersprechen: Wo der Eintrag gilt (in German)
- Organspende: Pro und Contra der Widerspruchslösung für junge Menschen (in German)
- Hirntod und Organspende: Wie der Ablauf im Krankenhaus aussieht (in German)
What applies to cannabis?
The Cannabis Act is the subject of ongoing debate and evaluation. The articles show what is settled, which possession rules apply, how cannabis clubs work and what matters for a driving licence.
- Cannabis Act 2026: what is planned and what is settled
- Cannabis possession limit for students: what is allowed
- Cannabis Clubs: Mitgliedschaft und Anmeldung im Überblick (in German)
- Cannabis und Führerschein: Was Studierende beachten sollten (in German)
- Cannabis-Evaluation: Was die bisherigen Ergebnisse zeigen (in German)
Frequently asked questions
When does the emergency care reform take effect?
The ministry’s announcement of 15 October 2026 does not give a specific date. The deadlines in the draft run from promulgation in the Federal Law Gazette. Until then, the existing rules apply.
Do I have to call 116117 first in an emergency?
No. In a life-threatening emergency, call 112 immediately. The number 116117 is the route for urgent complaints when no practice can be reached or outside surgery hours. Telephone triage is planned for the acute care line.
What is an integrated emergency centre?
An integrated emergency centre (INZ) is a site where a hospital emergency room, a KV on-call practice and a central triage service work together. The Federal Ministry of Health calls it the central point of contact for people facing a medical emergency.
Does the reform apply to students?
The announcement of 15 October 2026 does not contain a special rule for students. Which point of contact is available to you depends on which sites in your region operate as an INZ.
Where can I find the official text of the law?
The official text is published in the Federal Law Gazette after promulgation. Until then, the announcements of the Federal Ministry of Health and the parliamentary papers of the Bundestag and the Bundesrat are the reliable sources.
What to do next
- Remember the two numbers: 112 for life-threatening emergencies, 116117 for urgent complaints outside surgery hours.
- Check which on-call practice and emergency room are near you. The Kassenärztliche Vereinigung of your federal state provides information on on-call services.
- Follow the status in the Federal Law Gazette before relying on any date.
- Read the article in the relevant section above if a topic affects you directly.
Related articles
- Health insurance for students: glossary from A to Z (in German)
- Emergency Room Costs with Private Insurance: Who Pays What?
- Health insurance at career start (in German)
Sources:
- Federal Ministry of Health: Bundestag passes emergency care reform, press release of 15 October 2026 (in German)
- Bundesrat: Opinion on the draft Act on the Reform of Emergency Care, Paper 255/26, resolution of 12 June 2026 (in German)
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
