§02Emergencies & out-of-hours care

Outside standard hours, Gera operates the Thuringian Notdienst rota: one or two pharmacies are on duty 24 hours, rotating nightly, with the current roster posted on every pharmacy door and at lak-thueringen.de. The duty pharmacy serves the entire city and nearer Landkreis Greiz villages. Acute medical emergencies — chest pain, stroke symptoms, severe allergic reactions — should go directly to 112, which dispatches to the SRH Wald-Klinikum emergency department on Strasse des Friedens 122. The non-emergency medical hotline 116 117 handles after-hours GP triage and can issue digital prescriptions redeemable at the duty pharmacy.

§03Frequently asked questions

Can I get a prescription filled in Gera with a non-German EU prescription?

Yes. Gera pharmacies accept the cross-border EU prescription format, provided it carries the prescriber's full identification, the patient's date of birth, and the INN (international non-proprietary name) of the medicine. Controlled substances under the BtMG are excluded and require a German Betäubungsmittelrezept. Pharmacists near the centre — particularly Stadt-Apotheke and Adler Apotheke — handle these routinely for visitors. Payment is out-of-pocket in EUR; keep the receipt and stamped prescription for reimbursement through your home insurer or EHIC scheme on return.

Are any Gera pharmacies open on Sundays?

Only the duty (Notdienst) pharmacy. German federal law closes all retail pharmacies on Sundays and public holidays except those scheduled on the rota, which serves the whole city for 24 hours from 08:00. The rotation typically cycles every pharmacy through duty once every 4–6 weeks. The current Sunday-duty pharmacy is displayed on a notice at every closed shop window, on the LAK Thüringen website, and via the 22 8 33 phone shortcode from any German mobile.

Which Gera pharmacy handles methadone substitution?

Substitution therapy under the BtMG is provided by a subset of pharmacies working directly with licensed prescribers at SRH Wald-Klinikum and resident addiction-medicine GPs. Three to four city-centre and Lusan pharmacies hold the required additional permits and secure storage; the prescribing physician coordinates dispensing arrangements directly with the chosen pharmacy. Walk-in substitution dispensing without an established treatment contract is not available. Patients relocating to Gera should arrange handover through their current substitution physician at least two weeks before the move.

Do Gera pharmacies offer vaccinations?

Yes, within the federal scope expanded in 2022. Trained pharmacists may administer seasonal influenza vaccines to adults and COVID-19 boosters where the pharmacy has registered with the Kassenärztliche Vereinigung Thüringen. Travel vaccinations and paediatric immunisations remain a GP responsibility. Coverage is direct-billed to GKV; PKV patients pay upfront and claim back. Availability varies — call ahead, as not every Gera pharmacy has completed the BfArM-recognised training module required to administer injections on the premises.

§04Safety note

This directory is informational only and is not medical advice. Patients should consult a licensed pharmacy or physician in Gera for individual clinical decisions, medication interactions, or dosing questions.