Doctors in private practice (niedergelassene Ärzte/Ärztinnen) will help you at their own offices. You should make an appointment before seeing a doctor. You will be treated in a hospital (Krankenhaus) only if you cannot get sufficient treatment at a doctor’s office.
You can obtain certain medicines (known as ‘prescription-only’ medicines) at a pharmacy (Apotheke) only if you present a doctor’s prescription. You can also buy many medicines there without a prescription.