B.C. has a great health care system and supports are right at your fingertips in the event of an emergency. Here is what you need to know when visiting a doctor in Canada.
Health Insurance
As a TRU student, you are covered by the Medical Services Plan (MSP) and the Green Shield Canada Extended Health & Dental Plan.
We automatically enroll all new international students with guard.me insurance for the first three months in Canada. If you are a visiting short-term student, you will have an option to keep guard.me until the end of your studies here. Please discuss with your International Student Advisor (ISA). The cost of this insurance for one person/month is CAD$60 payable to TRU.
Medical Services Plan (MSP)
In B.C., public health insurance is called the Medical Services Plan – or MSP. It covers the cost of medically-necessary insured hospital and doctor services. MSP rates (premiums), which help meet a portion of the costs of B.C.’s health-care system, are $37.50 a month. Beginning in January 2020, MSP will free of cost.
Learn more about what is covered under your MSP.
Extended Health & Dental Plan
Our Students’ Union operates an extended Health and Dental insurance plan. The TRUSU Health and Dental Plan Fee is $248.00 per plan year for a student, usually paid with your tuition fees.
Learn more about what is covered under your extended health & dental plan.
Visiting a Doctor
When visiting a doctor, remember to bring your Medical Service Plan (MSP) card or your guard.me insurance, and any medication you might be taking.
TRU Medical Clinic
The TRU Medical Clinic is available to all registered students, staff and faculty of TRU. The clinic provides a full range of medical services, vaccinations as required by various programs and organizes annual flu clinics in conjunction with other departments and community organizations.
Appointments are required as it is not a drop-in clinic. To book an appointment, call 250-828-5126 or drop in.
Location: Old Main – Lower Level (Room OM 1461)
Hours: Monday to Thursday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. (closed from 11:45 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.) and Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. (no lunch closure).
*The clinic is closed for four weeks in late July and August and re-opens the week prior to the start of classes.
Walk-in Clinics
If you cannot be accommodated on the date that you wish to be seen or you need to see a doctor on the same day, there are a number of walk-in clinics that do not require appointments.
Please contact the clinic prior to attending as hours are subject to change.
Kamloops Urgent Care Clinic
4-910 Columbia Street (north side of Superstore) Stitches — no X-rays
Phone: 250-371-4905
Hours: Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Weekends and holidays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Kamloops Urgent Primary Care Centre (UPCC)
102 – 311 Columbia Street
Phone: 250-314-2256
Hours: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday-Sunday
Kinetic Energy Healthcare Centre
207-450 Lansdowne Street
Phone: 250-828-6637
Hours: Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
NorthShore Virtual Care Clinic
4-517 Tranquille Road
Phone: 250-434-4441
Hours: Call for hours physician is available
Medical Emergencies
Royal Inland Hospital
311 Columbia Street
Hours: Open 24/7
If you need an ambulance, call 911 on any campus or emergency phone.
Mobile Doctor for guard.me
1. Sign up at guard.me/mobiledoctor
2. Describe your symptoms
3. Chat with a doctor
4. Get a diagnosis or prescription
Other medical concerns
Specialist Referral
To see a specialist in Canada, you’ll need a referral from a doctor practitioner first. You will need to make an appointment with a doctor at the TRU Medical Clinic or see a doctor in one of the walk-in clinics first.
Fentanyl and Naloxone kits
If you’re at risk of an opioid overdose, or likely to witness a family member or friend at risk of overdose, you can visit the TRU Medical Clinic for a free naloxone kit. If you have questions about Fentanyl, you can visit the TRU Wellness Centre at OM1479.
