Refugees/displaced persons are entitled to medical care and doctor’s services, for which a variety of different regulations apply. The scope of such care and services for which the costs are borne by the state can vary according to a refugee’s status under immigration law.
Asylum-seekers have the right to certain health services under the German Asylum Seekers Benefits Act (AsylbLG). According to the provisions of this Act, the state will bear the costs without restriction for all statutorily recommended protective vaccinations, for medically required preventive check-ups and for medical services to pregnant mothers and to women who have recently given birth.
In addition to the above, according to § 4.1 AsylbLG primary healthcare will be granted in cases of acute illness and pain - inclusive of pharmaceutical products, surgical materials and such further measures that may be required. Except for certain urgently required, individual medical circumstances, dental treatment and the provision of dentures is excluded. Further health-related benefits may also be granted if these are ‟essential to ensuring good health” (§ 6.2 AsylbLG).
Persons entitled to health benefits under the German Asylum Seekers Benefits Act are issued with an Electronic Health Gard (eGK) after being assigned to the community responsible for their care. Persons (still) accommodated in a state preliminary reception centre are thus not yet issued with an eGK.
You can read more about the Electronic Health Card under the following link:
Gesundheitskarte für Asylbewerberinnen und Asylbewerber
The Schleswig-Holstein Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KVSH) provides useful information and documents for this purpose, e.g. links to Medical History Forms in different languages.
Informationen der KVSHYou can find an overview of information in foreign languages under the following link.
Baderegeln (in viele Sprachen übersetzt)
The guidebook issued by the Federal Ministry of Health provides asylum-seekers in German, English, Arabic, Kurdish, Farsi, Dari and Pashtu with information on the basic principles of our healthcare system and on how to act in cases of illness. It contains tips on how to look after your own health and on the mandatory preliminary health check you need to have after your arrival in Germany. At the same time it acts as a guide for authorities and medical staff, and contains a detachable vaccination card in various languages.
