See a doctor or nurse practitioner for free online in Nova Scotia today and skip the walk-in clinic

Wait times to see a virtual care provider can be as short as 10 minutes for Maple users, and average approximately 45 minutes to 3 hours for VirtualCareNS patients. We know waiting to get care can be inconvenient, and Nova Scotia is known to have the longest wait times in all of Canada for in person care, on VirtualCareNS and Maple, you can see a provider quickly and from the comfort of your own home.

If you’re looking for an online pharmacy in Nova Scotia, our providers can help with that. They can fill your prescription over VirtualCareNS or Maple and have it delivered to your local pharmacy or right to your door at no additional cost.

Nova Scotia faces a difficult problem, as many residents wait too long to get the care they need or are unable to see a healthcare provider in person.

Virtual health care can help bridge that gap. Now, patients don’t have to travel to a hospital or walk-in clinic in Nova Scotia to receive high-quality healthcare. And, with VCNS and Maple, you can conveniently speak to our online doctors and nurse practitioners from anywhere in Nova Scotia. On Maple, you can access virtual care from anywhere across and outside of Canada.

VirtualCareNS is a program that covers all Nova Scotia residents with access to free virtual care. Covered by Nova Scotia Health and powered by Maple, this program is eligible to all residents, whether they have a primary care provider or not.

Nova Scotia residents can also receive covered healthcare under the Medical Insurances Program, more commonly known as MSI. MSI Nova Scotia is administered by the Medavie Blue Cross. Maple is not currently covered by MSI, but is covered by many private insurance plans.

Wait times to see a specialist in Nova Scotia are 33 weeks on average. That’s over eight months. With Maple, you can see a specialist in under 72 hours and you don’t need a referral to book an appointment. Please note that specialists are exclusively available directly on Maple and are not accessible through VirtualCareNS.

Our specialist doctors are accepting consultations for new patients in Nova Scotia. It’s quick and easy to book an appointment with specialists such as mental health therapists, oncology navigators, sleep therapists and functional medicine practitioners on Maple.

Yes, you can get a prescription online or request a sick note during a virtual care visit in Nova Scotia.

To get an online prescription on Maple or through VirtualCareNS, simply click “Get care” and describe the prescription you need to continue. Without a primary care provider in Nova Scotia, it can be difficult to get a prescription or refill. With Maple and VirtualCareNS you can conveniently request a prescription or refill from the comfort of your own home. Our doctors and nurse practitioners can provide prescriptions for most medications at their discretion.

Additionally, on Maple you will have the option to schedule an appointment with a specialist to receive a prescription, depending on your needs.

Please note that our online doctors and nurse practitioners in Nova Scotia can’t provide prescriptions for narcotics or opiates. The provider will let you know if you need to visit a family practice or walk-in clinic in Nova Scotia instead.

To get a sick note, you’ll enter your symptoms and add your request into the notes section. Our doctors and nurse practitioners can provide sick notes for work, school, or short absences at their discretion. You’ll get a digital copy of the sick note with the provider's signature and contact information.

At this time, MSI doesn’t provide coverage for online visits due to our use of secure messaging and a national network of doctors and nurse practitioners. However, virtual care visits are covered by Nova Scotia Health through VirtualCareNS, and Maple is covered by many private insurance plans.

With Maple, no referral is needed to see a specialist. All you need to do is click “Get care”, select the specialist you’re looking for, and book an appointment at a time that’s convenient for you. You can see mental health therapists, oncology navigators, health and wellness coaches and more in Nova Scotia. Note that specialists are not covered through VirtualCareNS; but you can see a specialist through Maple.