What to do if you unexpectedly need medication while abroad?
Many doctors can send prescriptions to pharmacies or clinics abroad by fax, email or electronically. It is advisable to send these prescriptions either in English or in the language of the country in which the patient is located.
Some countries do not accept foreign prescriptions, particularly for prescription drugs or narcotics. In such cases, you will need a local prescription issued in the country you are visiting. If the medication you normally take is not approved or is unavailable in your destination country, only a local doctor can prescribe a substitute medication. The German embassy or consulate can assist in emergencies.
It may be helpful to prepare the following documents:
Tip: it is advisable to have a multilingual medication plan issued by your family doctor for travel. Pharmacies can help with translating active ingredients, as trade names vary from country to country.
Finding doctors in Germany
You can search for specialised doctors throughout Germany on the patient service website. The website also indicates whether the practice is barrier-free, i.e. accessible by wheelchair or walking aid, whether there are height-adjustable chairs and treatment tables, whether foreign languages are spoken and whether disabled parking, an induction loop system, German sign language or orientation aids for the visually impaired are available. The website also provides information in German sign language and simple language as well as a fax form for contacting the medical on-call service.
Emergency preparedness when travelling
Even with good planning, unforeseen situations or emergencies can arise while travelling, especially on longer trips or stays abroad.
It is therefore advisable to keep a list of important emergency contacts, such as medical supply stores in the region, medical assistance services, emergency doctors and local language mediators or translators (e.g. for doctor's visits). You should also keep a PDF file with medical information on hand—ideally in German and English (or the local language of your destination country).
Tip: check the contact details of the German Embassy or consulates, especially when travelling abroad. They can provide assistance with lost documents, medical emergencies and contacting relatives or insurance companies.
Access rider
It may be advisable to carry what is known as an 'access rider' with you. This is a document containing all important information to allow you to act quickly in an emergency. The Diversity Arts Culture website provides a guide on this topic (also available in simple language). The Access Docs for Artists website provides resources on the topic of access documents, including examples.