Montreal is the largest healthcare market in Quebec, with a population of over two million residents, a significant proportion of whom do not have access to a family doctor. In response to this need, Clinique Omicron—whose locations are currently based on Montreal’s South Shore—is in the process of opening a new location in Montreal. While waiting for this new location to open, this article explains how Montreal residents can access Clinique Omicron’s care right now, and what they can expect from the future Montreal location.
Access to Healthcare in Montreal — A Complex Reality for Hundreds of Thousands of Residents
Montreal is home to the majority of Quebec’s specialized medical resources—university hospitals, research centers, and specialized clinics. Yet access to primary care there remains difficult for a significant portion of the population. According to data from the Ministry of Health and Social Services, several hundred thousand Montrealers do not have a registered family doctor, and wait times in the emergency rooms of Montreal hospitals are among the longest in the province.
Pressure on Montreal's emergency rooms
In the absence of a family doctor, many Montreal residents turn to hospital emergency rooms for medical issues that could be treated at a clinic: infections, prescription refills, health checkups, and consultations for chronic symptoms. This overload of emergency departments lengthens wait times for all patients, including those with serious conditions. Walk-in medical clinics play a key role in relieving the strain on the emergency care system.
GAP, GMF and private clinics - current options for Montrealers
Montrealers without a family doctor can register with the Primary Care Access Center (GAP) at their CIUSSS—CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l’Île-de-Montréal, CIUSSS du Nord-de-l’Île, CIUSSS de l’Ouest-de-l’Île, etc.—to receive a priority consultation based on clinical severity. Family medicine groups (GMFs) and private clinics are available in all boroughs, but availability is often limited, and wait times for appointments can be significant. Telemedicine is an increasingly common alternative for conditions that do not require a physical examination.
What the future Clinique Omicron outlet in Montreal will offer
When Clinique Omicron’s Montreal location opens, it will offer the same range of services as its South Shore locations, tailored to the specific needs of Montreal’s population and designed to address the most pressing gaps in access to care.
General practice and primary care without a family doctor
At the heart of the service: general medical consultations available without a family doctor or a prior referral. Acute health issues, management of chronic conditions, prescription refills, and health screenings—all of these needs can be addressed directly, with significantly shorter wait times than those in the public healthcare system.
Women's health, men's health and preventive medicine
The future Montreal point-of-care will include services for women's health (basic gynecology, contraception, screening), men's health (hormone check-ups, preventive health), and preventive medicine (vaccinations, targeted screening, complete check-ups). These services will be available through direct consultation or telemedicine, depending on the nature of the need.
Mental health, ADHD and specialized services
Mental health and ADHD assessment services—for which wait times in Montreal’s public healthcare system can exceed one year—will also be part of the services offered at the future service center. Diagnostic evaluations, initial consultations, and medication follow-ups will be available in a significantly shorter timeframe than in the public system.
Aesthetic medicine and services not covered
As at our South Shore outlets, a range of aesthetic medicine services - injections, skin treatments, rejuvenation treatments - will be available to interested patients, as a complement to medical care covered by the RAMQ.
In the meantime - options now available to Montreal residents
Since the future Montreal service location is not yet open, Montreal residents who wish to access Clinique Omicron’s services starting today have two practical options.
Telemedicine - a consultation from Montreal without having to travel
Clinique Omicron’s telemedicine services are available from anywhere in Quebec, including Montreal. A Montreal resident can consult a doctor or a healthcare professional directly from home or work to get a prescription, discuss test results, renew a treatment, or get medical advice about symptoms. Teleconsultations are not a substitute for a physical exam, but they cover a significant portion of the consultations that Montrealers seek to obtain without delay.
Service points on the South Shore - accessible via bridges or the REM
For appointments requiring a physical exam, a blood draw, nursing care, or access to services not available via telemedicine, Montreal residents can visit Clinique Omicron’s locations in Brossard or Saint-Hubert. These locations are accessible from the southern part of the Island of Montreal via the Champlain Bridge, the Victoria Bridge, or the Jacques-Cartier Bridge, and from certain areas served by the REM (Réseau express métropolitain). For residents of the Plateau, Centre-Sud, or Verdun, the trip to the South Shore can be a practical alternative to long wait times at Montreal clinics.
Sign up for the waiting list — get notified as soon as registration opens
Montreal residents who would like to be notified as soon as Clinique Omicron’s Montreal location opens can sign up on the clinic’s website to receive a notification at that time. This registration is non-binding and simply allows you to stay informed about the progress of the expansion project.
Why a private primary care medical clinic meets a real need in Montreal
Clinique Omicron’s expansion into Montreal is part of a broader trend toward the growth of private primary-care clinics in Quebec. These facilities do not compete with the public healthcare system—they complement it by providing access where the public system is overwhelmed or unable to provide care within a reasonable timeframe.
Montreal's diversity - a need for adapted services
Montreal is one of Canada’s most cosmopolitan cities, with a population drawn from more than 120 cultural communities. This diversity creates specific healthcare needs—language barriers, health conditions linked to geographic origins, historical mistrust of certain healthcare systems, and the need for medical interpretation. A modern medical clinic in Montreal that takes this reality into account can provide more equitable access to care for underserved communities.
Population density - different logistics from the South Shore
Unlike the South Shore, Montreal is a densely populated city where most residents do not use a car as their primary mode of transportation. A Clinique Omicron location in Montreal will be designed with this reality in mind: accessibility via public transit, proximity to metro or REM lines, and access options tailored to an urban clientele with time constraints that differ from those of suburban residents.
Track the project's progress — stay informed about the opening in Montreal
Omicron Clinic will announce details regarding the opening of its Montreal location via its website and official communication channels. In the meantime, the entire clinic team remains available to answer questions about the services currently offered and the plans for future expansion.
How to stay informed
Those interested can regularly check the Clinique Omicron website for updates regarding the Montreal location, sign up for the clinic’s newsletter if available, or contact the clinic directly via the online form to express their interest and indicate their borough of residence. This information allows the planning team to better target the geographic needs of potential clients.
In the meantime - an already active, already accessible clinic
Even though it does not yet have a physical location in Montreal, Clinique Omicron is already a viable option for many Montrealers: through telemedicine for remote care, and through its locations on the South Shore for care requiring an in-person visit. The team welcomes patients from Montreal to its existing locations with the same standards of care as those provided to South Shore residents.
FAQ - Clinique médicale à Montréal and Clinique Omicron
Q: When will Clinique Omicron open in Montreal?
A: The expansion project in Montreal is currently in development. No specific opening date has been announced at this time. Those who wish to be notified as soon as the official announcement is made can sign up on the Clinique Omicron website or contact the clinic directly.
Q: Can a Montreal resident consult with Clinique Omicron via telemedicine?
A: Yes. Clinique Omicron’s telemedicine services are available throughout Quebec, including all of Montreal’s boroughs. Consultations are conducted via video from a computer, tablet, or smartphone, by appointment scheduled online through the clinic’s website. A RAMQ card is required for covered care.
Q: How convenient is it to get to Brossard or Saint-Hubert from Montreal?
A: It depends on where you live and the types of transportation available. From the south of the island—Verdun, LaSalle, Pointe-Saint-Charles, Centre-Sud, Old Montreal—the drive to Brossard or Saint-Hubert via the Champlain Bridge can take between 15 and 30 minutes, depending on the time of day and traffic conditions. Public transportation options are available via certain bus routes connecting southern Montreal to the South Shore. For the northern or eastern boroughs of Montreal, telemedicine remains the most convenient option until the Montreal service location opens.
Q: What types of medical clinics are currently available in Montreal?
A: Montreal has a diverse network of medical clinics: public family medicine groups (GMFs), private walk-in medical clinics, specialized clinics (dermatology, gynecology, psychiatry), community health centers (CLSCs), and telemedicine services. Access procedures, wait times, and available services vary considerably by facility. It is recommended that you check directly with each clinic regarding available services, appointment wait times, and applicable RAMQ coverage.
Q: Does Clinique Omicron offer services to Montreal businesses?
A: Yes. Clinique Omicron’s workplace health services—employee physicals, corporate health screenings, workplace vaccinations, preventive health programs, sick leave management—are available to Montreal-area businesses via telemedicine and, for services requiring in-person visits, through service locations on the South Shore or through on-site visits by the medical team, depending on the terms of the agreement. Companies interested in these services can contact the clinic directly to discuss an agreement tailored to their needs.
Omicron Clinic
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