A stunning nighttime view of Montreal's skyline reflecting on the St. Lawrence River under a crescent moon.

Healthcare in Montreal

Quebec's public health system doesn't cover tourists, ER waits regularly hit double digits, and everything runs in French first. The workarounds: a handful of anglophone hospitals, private walk-in clinics with same-day booking, and pharmacists who can now prescribe for dozens of minor conditions.

The system at a glance

RAMQ, Quebec's public insurance, excludes tourists and most digital nomads. Without it, public ER visits get billed at the non-resident rate — and waits of 6–18 hours for non-critical cases are normal. Travel insurance is essential.

For English-speaking care, stick to McGill University Health Centre (MUHC), Jewish General Hospital, or St. Mary's — all historically anglophone with bilingual staff. For faster private care, Statcare, Elna Medical, and RocklandMD accept walk-ins and direct payment.

Biron Health Group has walk-in labs across the city for blood work without a referral, starting around $50 per panel.

Navigating care

How to get an appointment

Book on Bonjour-santé. Pay ~$15 to reserve a walk-in clinic slot online instead of queuing at 8 am. Genuinely worth it.

Try a private clinic. Statcare on Sherbrooke W and Elna Medical accept walk-ins with direct payment. English-speaking, much shorter waits than public.

Ask a pharmacist first. Since 2024, Quebec pharmacists prescribe for ~30 minor conditions including UTIs and skin infections. About $15–20 per visit — faster and cheaper than a clinic.

Costs

What things cost

Approximate 2026 prices for uninsured patients, in USD. Montreal is expensive without RAMQ — carry travel insurance.

GP consultation$60–150
Specialist consultation$150–350
ER assessment$300–800
Can exceed $1,000+
Blood panel (hospital)$80–200
Blood panel (Biron lab)$50–150
Walk-in, no referral
X-ray$50–150
MRI scan$500–900
Private only
Dental cleaning$120–250
Dental crown$800–1,500

Public ERs bill non-residents at full rate and RAMQ does not reimburse tourists. Travel insurance is essential.

Pharmacies

Jean Coutu and Pharmaprix (Shoppers Drug Mart) are everywhere. Standard OTC medications are available freely. Codeine products like Tylenol 1 need a pharmacist consultation but no prescription. Pharmacists also prescribe for ~30 minor conditions — see the appointment section above. No formal duty pharmacy rotation. Some downtown Pharmaprix locations are open until midnight or 24 hours. Search "pharmacie ouverte maintenant" on Google Maps.

Health tips

Common visitor health risks in Montreal

Extreme cold (Nov–Mar)

Regularly hits -20°C to -30°C with wind chill. Frostbite risk in minutes. Layer up, wear ice cleats.

Ragweed allergies (Aug–Oct)

Intense ragweed season. Bring antihistamines if you have allergies.

Mosquito-borne illness

West Nile Virus present in summer. Use DEET repellent near parks and water.

Tap water is safe

Excellent quality. No concerns.

Emergency

Emergency number: 911

Police, fire, ambulance. French first — ask for English.

English at select hospitals

French-first city. Stick to MUHC, Jewish General, or St. Mary's for English.

Frequently asked questions

Are foreigners covered by Quebec's public health system (RAMQ)?

No. RAMQ excludes tourists, most digital nomads, and short-term visitors. You pay out of pocket or through travel insurance.

Which Montreal hospitals speak English?

McGill University Health Centre (MUHC), Jewish General Hospital, and St. Mary's are all historically anglophone with fully bilingual staff.

What is the emergency number in Montreal?
911
Dispatchers default to French — ask for English and you'll be transferred.

Sources

  1. [1] Gouvernement du Quebec — what to do in an emergency requiring an ambulance
  2. [2] McGill University Health Centre — fees for patients not covered by RAMQ
  3. [3] Jewish General Hospital — fees for medical services, non-RAMQ patients
  4. [4] Gouvernement du Quebec — Info-Sante 811, free 24/7 nurse line
  5. [5] Gouvernement du Quebec — primary care access point for people without a family doctor
  6. [6] Quebec Ministry of Health — directory of walk-in and same-day medical consultations
  7. [7] Government of Canada — travel insurance: Canada does not pay medical costs for visitors
  8. [8] Ordre des pharmaciens du Quebec — pharmacist prescribing for minor ailments
  9. [9] Environment and Climate Change Canada — extreme cold warnings and frostbite risk

More cities in Canada

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