Waiting for a family doctor can take a long time. Here are your official options in Ontario meanwhile. In an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
Walk-in clinics
OHIP covers the full cost of medically necessary visits with a doctor at a walk-in clinic, in person or by video or telephone, with your Ontario health card (What OHIP covers). Secure-messaging-only visits are not OHIP-insured. Note: once you have a family doctor, some clinics ask you not to use outside walk-ins.
Health811 and Virtual Urgent Care
- Health811: free health advice from a registered nurse, 24/7. Call 811 (TTY 711) or chat at health811.ontario.ca.
- Ontario Health-approved Virtual Urgent Care: nurse practitioners for urgent, non-life-threatening issues (e.g. cold symptoms, localized rash, minor urinary or stomach symptoms) for people without a primary care provider or other timely option. Get a referral via 811, Health811 chat or its symptom checker.
Pharmacists
Ontario pharmacists can prescribe certain medications for common ailments such as acid reflux, acne, cold sores, pink eye and uncomplicated urinary tract infections, at no extra cost with your OHIP card. Prescribing is optional for each pharmacist, so call first (ontario.ca/page/pharmacies).
Keep looking for a family doctor
Register with Health Care Connect and check our GTA clinics accepting patients.
More guides
Last checked: October 13, 2026. Rules and phone numbers change; confirm with the official source links.