Top Medicine Made in Berlin

It is only in Berlin that visitors can so perfectly combine health consciousness, culture and lifestyle. Guests from abroad are increasingly investing in their health during their stay in the German capital. Berlin provides medical experts of all disciplines as well as internationally renowned hospitals such as the Deutsche Herzzentrum (The German Heart Centre) or the Universitätsklinik Charité (The Charité Clinical Centre). These clinics and numerous other hospitals have international facilities offering top-class medical treatment for patients from abroad. Apart from the excellent quality of medicine, foreign patients enjoy a unique choice of health coaching, relaxation packages, city spas, and beauty treatments

Berlin’s success as a health capital reflects a 300-year tradition as a healthcare and scientific centre. More than a dozen Nobel Prize winners worked here, including researchers such as Rudolf Virchow and Robert Koch. In the capital’s 90 hospitals, 853,000 patients are treated by around 9,300 doctors yearly.

The number of international guests visiting Berlin for medical treatment is rising steadily. Approximately 21.000 patients per year are coming for prevention, diagnostics and medical treatment. Since 2012 the number has risen about 15 per cent. Especially Russian and Arabic guests appreciate the excellent medical care; interest from China is growing as well.

Charité is the largest university hospital in Europe and for the sixth consecutive year was awarded the title of best hospital of Germany by the magazine Focus. World-renowned scientists cooperate closely with recognised research organisations such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Boston. The Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) Berlin-Buch has a privileged partnership in research. Since 2019, the Berlin Institute of Health (BIH) has been integrated into the Charité, making research an important third pillar alongside health care and the medical faculty. The aim is to transfer the research results from the laboratory to clinical care as quickly as possible and thus to provide patients in Berlin with the best possible care.

The „International Patients Department” deals exclusively with foreign patients and their preferences. Its team can provide an individually tailored medical offer including costs and duration of treatment. It arranges visas, transfers, and accommodation as well so that patients and their companions can enjoy a comfortable hotel stay for example at the Virchow Guest House. Accommodation in other hotels can also be arranged.

Vivantes with its nine clinics and several rehabilitation centres is Germany’s largest hospital group. “Vivantes International Medicine” focuses on the specific needs of international patients. It offers not only exclusive services but also multilingual staff that can support international patients. The exclusive comfort wards offer rooms of hotel standards, direct admission as well as additional service staff.

Under the leadership of world famous heart surgeon Professor Dr. med. Volkmar Falk, the German Heart Centre(DHZB) is a top-level hospital for heart and vascular diseases. The clinic enjoys confidence of many prominent patients. The Axel Springer guest house, located beside the clinic, offers comfortable accommodation for patients’ relatives. Patients and their companions also benefit from special rates for an overnight stay in the Guest House.

More than 30 medical facilities present themselves on the medical tourism website of visitBerlin and take care of the medical needs of patients from abroad. From general surgery to urology, more than 80 chief physicians and specialists with their expertise are available to provide treatment that is often not available in the patients' home countries.

No matter how demanding the guests are - every expectation on a health and city trip to Berlin can be fulfilled. Upon arrival, a pick-up service can be arranged to take visitors to the clinic. On request, patients can be accommodated in the comfort clinic, a private room with upscale furnishing and service. A comprehensive medical check-up can be performed within a few hours. The doctors use state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging and test the patients’ fitness. Interdisciplinary medical teams assess the results and provide advice on prevention. Visitors can stay in one of the several five-star hotels which provide excellent services with their spa and wellness offers.

With more than 140,000 events in 2017, Berlin stands out as the world’s metropolis for large congresses. Around 26 percent of these meetings are in the area of medicine, science and research. This makes the healthcare industry one of the most important sectors. 

The World Health Summit represents a top-ranking international guiding forum for the health care issues worldwide. Since 2009, it has become a meeting platform of over 1,600 experts from 80 nations, including Nobel Prize winners, international health ministers, and CEOs of different companies.

The medical tourism website provides comprehensive information about medical facilities in Berlin. By searching for a specific medical department the interested patient can find the corresponding hospital or doctor’s surgery in German, English, Russian, Arabic and Chinese. On the sites of the hospitals detailed information about the doctors and their specialisations is conveyed. Maps show the closest pharmacy or place to stay. For helping to prepare the medical travel a check list and several fact sheets give further information. Also touristic highlights for sightseeing, recreation and shopping are presented.

Additional information can be accessed on the website of visitBerlin that provides a summary of museums, events, restaurants and accommodation. 

An overview of Berlin-based institutions in the healthcare sector is provided by the Health Capital Berlin-Brandenburg network. The network also offers expert advice on training and further education.

For more information about the health marketing activities of visitBerlin, as well as collaboration with hospitals and hotels, please address health@visitBerlin.de.