Is an online doctor trustworthy? Ten signs of a reputable provider in Germany

Why the question of trustworthiness is justified

Telemedicine has been permitted in Germany since 2018 and has proven itself: the Cochrane review on interactive telemedicine and the review in the New England Journal of Medicine show outcomes comparable to in-person care for clearly defined concerns. At the same time the market has produced providers that leave out the medical part and sell prescriptions or certificates after a click-through form. The consumer advice centre of North Rhine-Westphalia documented this with test purchases in March 2026: five of six platforms examined prescribed weight-loss injections after a mere questionnaire even though the testers entered a false BMI, and four of ten required neither a photo nor an ID.

For you as a patient this has consequences: a medicine without medical review can harm you, a certificate without doctor contact can cost you your job, and your health data can fall into the wrong hands with a provider without data protection. The good news: reputable providers can be recognised by clear signs that you can check in a few minutes.

The ten signs of a reputable online doctor

#	Sign	How to check
1	Legal notice with operator in Germany	section 5 DDG: company, address, register, contact
2	Named doctors licensed in Germany	name, professional title, chamber on the website or invoice
3	Real consultation by video or telephone	no prescription and no certificate by questionnaire alone
4	Refusal possible and explained	the site says the doctor decides and can refuse
5	Transparent costs before booking	GOÄ codes, total amount, no hidden subscriptions
6	Limits are stated	what is not possible by video, when a practice or emergency call is needed
7	Data protection and technology	GDPR policy, EU server location, encrypted consultation
8	Identity verification	account, date of birth, plausibility questions for prescriptions, no ‘no ID required’
9	No promises of cure, no advertising for prescription drugs	no ‘guaranteed’ claims, no prices for prescription-only medicines next to an order button
10	Traceable documents	prescription with mandatory details and signature, certificate with doctor’s name and date

Each of these signs has a legal background. The professional code requires a medical assessment in each case and informed consent (section 7(4) MBO-Ä, section 630e BGB). The Act on Advertising in the Health Care System (HWG) prohibits advertising for remote treatments that do not meet professional standards (section 9) and advertising prescription-only medicines to the public (section 10). The Digital Services Act prescribes the legal notice. Anyone who visibly complies with these rules has nothing to hide.

The most important sign: a conversation, not a form

The difference between a reputable online doctor and a sales portal comes down to one question: does a doctor speak to you? The professional code expressly permits remote treatment, but as a medical service with history taking, follow-up questions, assessment and information. A questionnaire can prepare the consultation but not replace it.

Two decisions from 2025 and 2026 show where case law is heading. The Regional Labour Court of Hamm upheld the summary dismissal of an employee who had presented a sick note from a pure online questionnaire; the employee had faked a doctor contact that never took place. The Federal Court of Justice, in a referral to the European Court of Justice, expressed the preliminary view that questionnaire diagnoses via foreign practices breach section 9 HWG.

For you this means: if a website promises ‘prescription in two minutes’ or ‘sick note without consultation’, leave it. A reputable service says instead that the doctor sees you, questions you and can also refuse.

Identity, plausibility, control

The consumer advice centre’s test purchases revealed a second pattern: platforms that neither verify identity nor question entries. With normal weight in the questionnaire there was no prescription; with a subsequently changed BMI of 32.4 there was one at five of six providers, without ID and without a photo. A platform that works like this protects neither you nor others.

Reputable providers require an account with date of birth, ask about pre-existing conditions, medication and contraindications, ask follow-up questions in the consultation and require evidence such as laboratory values or photos for certain prescriptions. They avoid flat prices that already include the medicine, because that suggests the prescription is fixed before the doctor has spoken. At OpenClinic24 the process is therefore: describe your concern, create an account, consultation, decision, document.

Data protection: what to look for

Under Article 9 GDPR health data belongs to the specially protected categories. Check the privacy policy for three points: where data is stored, for how long and who has access. A server location in the EU, an encrypted video consultation and no advertising trackers on treatment pages are minimum standards. Be suspicious if the policy is missing, is only available in English, refers to corporations outside the EU or if the site sets dozens of cookies from advertising networks when opened.

OpenClinic24 stores data in the EU, runs the consultation with end-to-end encryption and uses no advertising pixels on treatment pages. Your documents are in your patient account; you decide whom you share them with.

Costs: transparent or hidden

A reputable private provider bills under the fee schedule for physicians and states the items before booking. At OpenClinic24 €10.72 is reserved (GOÄ no. 1, factor 2.3), further items depending on scope, each with code and amount on the invoice, charged as soon as the consultation has started. Statutory health insurers generally do not reimburse private medical services; a reputable provider says so before booking, not afterwards.

Warning signs on costs: subscriptions that renew without notice. Flat rates that include medicine and shipping. Prices that only become visible after entering personal data. And ‘free’ without explaining who then pays.

When to go to a practice, when to call emergency services

Even the most reputable online doctor has limits, and states them. A practice is the place for complaints that need an examination, laboratory tests or imaging, chronic conditions with regular checks, first prescriptions requiring an examination, narcotics and follow-up certificates. Outside surgery hours the medical on-call service on 116 117 refers you.

Call 112 for life-threatening signs. A website that offers you a consultation instead of the emergency number in such situations is not reputable.

Checklist to take with you

Legal notice with German operator and doctors’ names present. Consultation by video or telephone mandatory, no pure form. Refusal expressly possible. Costs with GOÄ codes visible before booking. Limits and emergency information on the site. Privacy policy with EU server location. Identity and plausibility checks. No ‘guaranteed’ promises, no medicine prices next to an order button. Documents with doctor’s name, date and signature. Reviews with source and date.

Anyone who meets all ten points works according to the rules set by medical chambers, legislators and courts. As of October 2026.