Not having a family doctor can make it difficult to know where to turn when a health concern comes up. You may need advice, an appointment or an assessment for a specialist referral, even while you are waiting for ongoing care.
Québec has public services that help people access care without being registered with a particular doctor. A private consultation is another option, with fees paid by the patient.
Key takeaways
- The Québec Family Doctor Finder, or GAMF, is the waiting list for ongoing primary care.
- The Primary Care Access Point, or GAP, helps eligible people find care for a current health need.
- Info-Santé 811, option 1, provides nursing advice for non-urgent concerns.
- You can be assessed for a specialist referral without already having your own family doctor.
- Severe or potentially life-threatening symptoms require emergency care.
What should you do first if you don’t have a family doctor?
Start by separating two needs: finding ongoing care and getting help with a concern you have now.
For ongoing care, check your eligibility and register with the Québec Family Doctor Finder (GAMF).
For a current concern, use the appropriate care-access service rather than waiting for a permanent doctor assignment. Registering on the waiting list does not arrange an appointment for your immediate symptoms.
How can you get medical care while waiting?
The best starting point depends on what you need. For help finding an appropriate service: use the GAP.
The Primary Care Access Point serves people without a family doctor or specialized nurse practitioner in primary care, as well as people assigned to a group of family doctors.
You can submit an online request. If you need help completing it, call 811, option 3. An agent calls back to assess your need and direct you to an appropriate resource. This might be a consultation, a pharmacist or advice about care at home.
Telephone assistance is available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends and public holidays. Regional callback hours can differ.
For nursing advice: call Info-Santé 811, option 1.
A nurse can help you understand a non-urgent health concern and decide where to seek care. This service is available 24 hours a day, every day. It is separate from GAP telephone assistance.
To search for an appointment: check Rendez-vous santé Québec.
Québec Medical Appointment Scheduler, also called Rendez-vous santé Québec, lets eligible users search for appointments near a chosen location.
You need a RAMQ card to use the service. An expired or invalid card can still be used to search and book, but you must resolve your situation with RAMQ before attending. Appointment availability varies.
How does the Québec Family Doctor Finder work?
The GAMF helps eligible people find a family doctor, a specialized nurse practitioner in primary care or a group of doctors accepting patients.
Registration is available online or through your local waiting-list office, known as the GACO. Eligibility includes having a valid health insurance card, living in Québec and not already being registered with a family doctor or primary-care nurse practitioner, subject to the official exceptions.
Priority depends on your health situation. Waiting times also depend on local availability and demand, so a specific assignment date cannot be promised.
While waiting:
- Keep your telephone number, email and address current.
- Report changes in your health condition.
- Respond to communications about your registration.
See the official GAMF page for full eligibility and update instructions.
Can you get a specialist referral without a family doctor?
Yes. You can arrange an assessment with a family doctor at a clinic even if you are not registered with that doctor for ongoing care.
The doctor evaluates your concern and decides whether a specialist consultation is appropriate. A referral is not automatic: the next step may instead be treatment, testing or follow-up in primary care.
For many designated specialties, non-urgent first-consultation requests are sent to the Service Request Management Centre, known as the CRDS. Other referrals may require you to contact the specialist’s office yourself.
Before leaving, ask where the request is being sent and who will arrange the appointment.
What happens after a referral is sent?
If the request goes through the CRDS, it will contact you with the appointment details. Scheduling depends on the clinical priority and available services; a referral does not guarantee an immediate appointment.
Keep your contact information current with the referring clinic. Ask whom to contact if you have not heard back within the timeframe you were given.
If your health changes while waiting, seek reassessment. Do not wait for the specialist appointment if urgent symptoms develop.
Where can a private clinic fit in?
A private clinic provides another way to arrange a medical assessment. Before booking, check the consultation’s scope, price and any separate charges for tests or follow-up.
Bina Medical Clinic offers private consultations in Brossard. Its published fees, checked October 25, 2026, are:
ConsultationIntended scopeFeeMinor Urgent CareOne eligible, uncomplicated concern$145 CADMedical ConsultationA fuller assessment of one new, recurring or ongoing concern$245 CADComprehensive ConsultationTwo or more separate medical concerns$395 CAD
Forms, sample collection, testing and procedures are billed separately. The clinic can help identify the appropriate appointment before you book.
Bina’s visits are paid directly rather than billed to RAMQ. Private insurance reimbursement depends on the service and your plan; confirm coverage with your insurer.
Bina also accepts enquiries from new patients seeking ongoing family-medicine care. Contact the clinic to discuss availability and arrangements. A private appointment does not register you on the GAMF or guarantee a faster public specialist appointment.
Can you see a doctor through telemedicine?
Some concerns can be assessed remotely. Bina offers eligible consultations by video or phone across Québec.
A virtual visit may be suitable for discussing a non-urgent concern, reviewing results or following up on treatment. However, the clinician may recommend an in-person appointment if a physical examination, vital-sign assessment, testing or a procedure is needed.
Booking a virtual consultation does not guarantee a prescription or a particular treatment. The next steps depend on the assessment.
What should you bring to your appointment?
A short preparation list can help you make the most of a visit with a clinician who has not met you before.
Bring or prepare:
- Your current medications, including supplements, and any known allergies.
- A brief description of your symptoms and when they began.
- Relevant medical reports, test results and previous referrals.
- Your health insurance card, if you have one, and any identification requested by the clinic.
- Your main questions and concerns.
Before leaving, clarify who will review any test results, whether another appointment is needed and what to do if your symptoms change.
When should you seek emergency care?
Severe chest or abdominal pain, severe breathing problems and serious injuries require urgent assessment. Call 911 if a life is in danger.
Do not wait for a GAP callback, a private appointment or a specialist referral when symptoms may be life-threatening.
For a non-urgent concern when you are unsure where to go, call Info-Santé 811, option 1, for nursing guidance.
Talk with us
Need a medical assessment or want to discuss ongoing private care in Brossard? Contact Bina Medical Clinic to find out which appointment fits your needs.
View consultation options and book an appointment, or call 514-307-0111.
For eligible concerns, telemedicine appointments are also available across Québec.
Official sources
- Gouvernement du Québec — Primary Care Access Point (GAP)
- Gouvernement du Québec — Québec Family Doctor Finder (GAMF)
- Gouvernement du Québec — Advice about a non-urgent health problem
- Gouvernement du Québec — Schedule a medical appointment online
- Gouvernement du Québec — Consulting a medical specialist
- Gouvernement du Québec — When to go to the emergency room
- Bina Medical Clinic — Consultation with a Doctor
- Bina Medical Clinic — Telemedicine
- Bina Medical Clinic — Pricing
This article provides general information and does not replace an individual medical assessment, diagnosis or treatment.
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