Prescription after doctor consultation Private prescription after medical video consultation
You describe your concern and talk by video to a doctor licensed in Germany. Whether a medicine is medically indicated and can be prescribed via video is decided by the doctor during the consultation.
- Medical decision
Licensed doctors
Reservation €10.72
Short answer
A private prescription is only available at OpenClinic24 after a private medical video consultation: Whether a medicine is medically appropriate and prescribed is decided by the doctor in each individual case, a prescription is not guaranteed. Controlled substances and first prescriptions that require an examination are excluded. You pay for the medicine yourself at the pharmacy. Reservation €10.72.
- Prescription only after medical assessment in a video consultation; a refusal is possible and will be explained.
- Validity of a private prescription: usually 3 months from issue; statutory prescriptions are valid for 28 days.
- Repeat prescriptions for known long-term medication after medical review by video; no controlled substances, no first prescriptions that require an examination.
- Reservation €10.72 (GOÄ no. 1, factor 2.3), charged as soon as the consultation has started; you pay for the medicine at the pharmacy.
- Four checks before every prescription: identity, questionnaire, video call, medical decision with possible refusal.
As of: October 22, 2026. Medically reviewed by Adi Zoabi MD.
Steps and timing
- Describe your concern (about 3 minutes)Choose “prescription” or “repeat prescription”, state your symptoms, known diagnoses and current medication, and create your patient account.
- Reserve the basic fee (1 minute)You reserve €10.72. You are charged as soon as the consultation has started, depending on the actual call. In the evening (8–10 pm and 6–8 am), at night (10 pm–6 am) and on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays the statutory GOÄ surcharge is added at the single rate (€10.49, €18.65 or €12.82); the start of the consultation counts and you see the amount before reserving.
- Video consultation (usually 5 to 15 minutes)Immediately if a doctor is online, otherwise from the queue with a link by SMS and e-mail. During the call the doctor checks whether a prescription by video is justifiable.
- Medical decision (during the call)The doctor decides on further treatment. If a medicine is prescribed, you will find the prescription with instructions on how to redeem it and the GOÄ invoice in your patient account.
What is a private prescription?
A private prescription (Privatrezept) is a medical prescription for which you pay for the medicine yourself at the pharmacy. At OpenClinic24, the doctor decides after the video consultation whether a prescription is medically indicated.
The private prescription is not an e-prescription (E-Rezept) via the gematik telematics infrastructure. The e-prescription has been mandatory for statutory patients in contracted care since 2024; private medical prescriptions continue to run outside this infrastructure. The authenticity of an OpenClinic24 document can be checked via the verification code at openclinic24.com/verify/.
Prescription-only medicines may only be prescribed after medical review (Arzneimittelverschreibungsverordnung, AMVV). Whether a prescription by video is justifiable is the doctor’s decision in each case under section 7 (4) of the model professional code. There is no promise of a prescription.
Discuss existing medication with a doctor
If you take a medicine permanently, you regularly need a new prescription. By video this is possible when the diagnosis is known, the therapy is stable and no in-person examination is needed. Typical cases:
- Blood pressure medication for well-controlled hypertension
- Thyroid hormones for a known underactive thyroid with current lab values
- Contraceptives that you have tolerated well so far
- Medicines for heartburn or hay fever with a known diagnosis
- Asthma or diabetes medication with stable control and available results
Bring your last doctor's letter, current lab values or the medicine pack to the call. The doctor checks the dose, interactions and whether a check-up is due. Then either a further prescription is issued or an in-person examination is recommended.
If a prescription is issued
If a medicine is prescribed, you will find the prescription with instructions on how to redeem it in your patient account.
You pay for the medicine at the pharmacy. Privately insured patients submit the pharmacy receipt to their insurance company.
A private prescription is usually valid for three months from issue. Redeem it promptly so that your treatment is not interrupted.
What can be prescribed by video and what cannot
The table shows which prescriptions are possible by video after medical review and where an in-person examination remains necessary. The doctor’s decision in each case is always decisive.
| Prescription | Possible by video | Requirement or reason |
|---|---|---|
| Repeat prescription for known long-term medication | Yes, after medical review | known diagnosis, stable therapy, results available |
| Prescription for acute complaints assessable by video | Yes, case by case | symptoms can be assessed sufficiently in the call |
| Contraceptives | Yes, after history taking | risk factors are asked, blood pressure value if needed |
| First prescription requiring an examination | No | physical examination or lab tests on site required |
| Controlled substances (BtM prescription) | No | Narcotics Prescription Ordinance, official form only |
| Medicines without medical indication | No | medical decision, no prescription on request |
Four checks before every prescription
In March 2026 the consumer advice centre of North Rhine-Westphalia (Verbraucherzentrale NRW) tested online providers and criticised that some prescribed without identity checks and without a conversation. At OpenClinic24 four fixed steps apply:
- Identity: you identify yourself before the consultation.
- Questionnaire: symptoms, previous illnesses, medication and allergies are recorded in a structured way.
- Video call: the doctor talks to you personally and asks follow-up questions.
- Medical decision: a prescription only if medically indicated and justifiable by video; a refusal is possible and is explained.
Costs and reimbursement
You reserve €10.72 (GOÄ no. 1, factor 2.3). You are charged as soon as the consultation has started based on the actual call; with a visual examination per GOÄ no. 5 it is €21.44. You pay for the medicine itself at the pharmacy. In the evening (8–10 pm and 6–8 am), at night (10 pm–6 am) and on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays the statutory GOÄ surcharge is added at the single rate (€10.49, €18.65 or €12.82); the start of the consultation counts and you see the amount before reserving.
- Statutory insurance (GKV): you pay for the consultation and the medicine yourself; insurers usually do not reimburse a private medical service.
- Private insurance (PKV): submit the GOÄ invoice and the pharmacy receipt to your insurer; reimbursement depends on your tariff.
- Civil-service aid (Beihilfe): submit both receipts to your Beihilfe office.
If no prescription is issued, you are only invoiced for the medical consultation. No membership, no subscription.
E-prescription or private prescription: the difference
The gematik e-prescription (E-Rezept) is the digital form of the statutory prescription. It is stored in the telematics infrastructure and redeemed via the health card, the e-prescription app or a printout with a token. Since 2024 it has been mandatory for statutory patients in contracted care.
The OpenClinic24 private prescription is a private medical document and does not run through the telematics infrastructure. The difference lies in billing: with a statutory prescription, the pharmacy bills the health insurance fund, with a private prescription you pay yourself and submit the receipt to PKV or Beihilfe where applicable.
We deliberately do not use the term e-prescription for our PDF to avoid confusion.
Legal position as of 22 October 2026
- Medicines Prescription Ordinance (Arzneimittelverschreibungsverordnung, AMVV): prescription-only medicines only on medical prescription after review.
- Narcotics Prescription Ordinance (Betäubungsmittel-Verschreibungsverordnung, BtMVV): controlled substances only on the official BtM form, not possible by video.
- Section 7 (4) model professional code (Musterberufsordnung): remote treatment in individual cases if medically justifiable and the patient has been informed.
Section 9 and Section 10 Health Advertising Act (Heilmittelwerbegesetz, HWG): no blanket advertising for remote treatment, no public advertising for prescription-only medicines.
- E-prescription: mandatory in statutory health insurance since 2024 (gematik); private prescriptions on paper or as a PDF.
- Medical fee schedule (Gebührenordnung für Ärzte, GOÄ): basis of the invoice, reservation under no. 1 with factor 2.3.
Sources
- Arzneimittelverschreibungsverordnung (AMVV, Medicines Prescription Ordinance), Federal Ministry of Justice, gesetze-im-internet.de, 2026.
- Betäubungsmittel-Verschreibungsverordnung (BtMVV, Narcotics Prescription Ordinance), Federal Ministry of Justice, gesetze-im-internet.de, 2026.
- Section 10 Heilmittelwerbegesetz (Health Advertising Act): advertising prescription-only medicines, Federal Ministry of Justice, gesetze-im-internet.de, 2026.
- E-prescription: application and ways to redeem, gematik GmbH, 2026.
- Gebührenordnung für Ärzte (GOÄ, medical fee schedule), Federal Ministry of Justice, gesetze-im-internet.de, 2026.
- Model professional code for physicians (MBO-Ä), section 7 (4) remote treatment, German Medical Association (Bundesärztekammer), 2026.
This is how it works.
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Describe your concern
A few questions in about 3 minutes, then your patient account and the fee reservation.
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Doctor by video
Immediately if a doctor is online, otherwise from the queue with a link by SMS and e-mail.
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After the consultation
The doctor decides on further treatment, such as a sick note or referral. Documents and the GOÄ invoice are in your patient account.
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General Medicine General practice advice and treatment, colds, flu, allergies, gastrointestinal complaints, headaches, back pain and more. Learn more -
Contraception (pill) The contraceptive pill is one of the most commonly used methods of birth control in Germany. In a video consultation you can conveniently request your repeat prescription online, following a medical assessment, a private prescription under the German GOÄ fee schedule can be issued. An initial prescription requires a particularly careful review of your risk factors and is only possible online to a limited extent. Learn more -
High blood pressure (arterial hypertension) Arterial hypertension (high blood pressure) is a persistent elevation of blood pressure that often goes unnoticed for a long time and significantly increases the risk of heart attack, stroke and kidney damage. If your therapy is already well controlled, your home readings can be discussed in a video consultation; following a doctor's assessment, a follow-up private prescription for your existing medication can be issued. Learn more -
Hay Fever & Pollen Allergy Hay fever (seasonal allergic rhinitis) is an allergic reaction of the nasal and eye mucous membranes to pollen from trees, grasses or weeds. Typical signs are sneezing fits, a runny or blocked nose and itchy, watery eyes during the pollen season. Following a doctor's assessment, symptomatic treatment, for example with antihistamines or a corticosteroid nasal spray, can be initiated in a video consultation based purely on your medical history. Learn more -
Heartburn & Reflux Heartburn is a burning sensation behind the breastbone caused by stomach acid flowing back into the oesophagus. If it occurs regularly, this is referred to as gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD). In the video consultation, a structured history-based assessment is carried out; following the doctor's evaluation, a private prescription, for example for proton pump inhibitors, may be issued. Learn more -
Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) In hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid), the thyroid gland produces too few hormones, which slows down the metabolism. The condition is well treatable and usually requires long-term hormone replacement therapy with regular laboratory monitoring. In a video consultation, the doctor can assess your ongoing therapy based on your current laboratory results and, following medical assessment, issue a follow-up prescription. Learn more
Frequently Asked Questions
What can be prescribed via video?
Prescriptions that a doctor can take responsibility for after history taking and a video call: repeat prescriptions for known long-term medication, medicines for acute complaints assessable by video and contraceptives after history taking. Not possible are controlled substances and first prescriptions that require an in-person examination.
Is a repeat prescription possible without visiting a practice?
Without visiting a practice yes, without talking to a doctor no. Whether a repeat prescription is possible is decided by the doctor in the video consultation if the diagnosis and therapy are known and no check-up is due. Have your doctor's letter, lab values or medicine pack ready.
How do I redeem a prescription?
If a prescription is issued, you will find it with instructions on how to redeem it in your patient account. The pharmacy can check its authenticity via the verification code at openclinic24.com/verify/.
Is the private prescription valid in other EU countries?
In principle, yes. Under the EU patients’ rights directive 2011/24/EU, pharmacies in other EU countries as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway can recognise prescriptions from Germany if the medicine is authorised there and the prescription contains the EU mandatory details. The local pharmacy decides in each case, so ask beforehand. Switzerland and narcotics are excluded.
How long is a private prescription valid?
Usually three months from the date of issue. Statutory prescriptions, by contrast, are valid for 28 days. Redeem the prescription promptly nonetheless so that your therapy is not interrupted.
How much does the medical consultation cost?
You reserve €10.72 (GOÄ no. 1, factor 2.3). You are charged as soon as the consultation has started; with a visual examination per GOÄ no. 5 it is €21.44. You pay for a prescribed medicine at the pharmacy. If nothing is prescribed, you only pay for the consultation. In the evening (8–10 pm and 6–8 am), at night (10 pm–6 am) and on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays the statutory GOÄ surcharge is added at the single rate (€10.49, €18.65 or €12.82); the start of the consultation counts and you see the amount before reserving.
Does private health insurance reimburse the private prescription?
Privately insured patients submit the GOÄ invoice for the consultation and the pharmacy receipt for the medicine to their insurer. Whether and how much is reimbursed depends on the tariff. Statutory insurers usually do not reimburse.
Can I get a prescription for controlled substances online?
No. Controlled substances may only be prescribed on the official BtM form (Narcotics Prescription Ordinance). This is not possible by video consultation; contact your treating practice.
Is the OpenClinic24 prescription an e-prescription?
No. The e-prescription is the digital statutory prescription of gematik in the telematics infrastructure. A private medical prescription from OpenClinic24 runs outside this infrastructure.
How does the pharmacy check that the prescription is genuine?
Every prescription carries a digital signature and a verification code. The pharmacy enters the code at openclinic24.com/verify/ and sees whether the document was issued by OpenClinic24 and is unchanged.
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Adi Zoabi MD- LicenceLicensed physician (Approbation, Germany)
Last reviewed22 October 2026
Guidelines and legal changes are incorporated continuously. Not a substitute for an in-person examination.
Medical notice: Not a substitute for an in-person medical examination. The information on this page is intended for general guidance only. In an emergency, please call 112.