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Centre de Santé Inuulitsivik in Puvirnituq, QC is the largest health facility in the Inuulitsivik network, serving seven Inuit communities along the Hudson Bay coast with 25 inpatient beds and a 24/7 emergency department staffed by family physicians around the clock. As the primary acute-care hospital for one of Canada's most remote Arctic regions, it delivers emergency care, trauma response, general medicine, surgery, psychiatry, maternity, and long-term care to populations across Nunavik's Hudson Bay coast. Residents of Puvirnituq and surrounding villages — including Akulivik, Inukjuak, Ivujivik, Kuujjuaraapik, Salluit, and Umiujaq — rely on this facility as their essential healthcare anchor, with air evacuation to Montreal available for cases requiring specialist or surgical intervention.
Services & Specialties
24/7 emergency department, Trauma care, General and family medicine, Pediatrics, Obstetrics and maternity (birth centre), Internationally recognized Indigenous midwifery program, Day surgery, Psychiatry and mental health, Long-term and extended care (CHSLD mission), CLSC community health services, Youth protection services (CPEJ mission), Aaniavituqarq Crisis Centre (Regional Intensive Care Centre), Diagnostic services, Home care and community outreach visits, Medical evacuation coordination to Montreal, Northern Quebec Module patient services in Montreal, McGill University Family Medicine training site.
Amenities
Family physician on-site 24/7
Inuktitut-speaking Inuit staff available
Medical evacuation coordination services
Emergency jet landing strip on-site
Note: Food options in Puvirnituq are very limited and expensive — visitors and patients are advised to bring supplies
This is the only hospital serving seven remote Hudson Bay Inuit communities — for life-threatening emergencies, the on-site ER is your first and essential resource.
Cases requiring specialist care, surgery, or advanced diagnostics will be transferred by air to Montreal-area hospitals; average transport time is approximately 12 hours, weather permitting. Plan for potential extended family separation.
Bring all your medications, health cards, and medical history documentation, as specialist records from southern facilities may not be immediately accessible.
Food and supplies in Puvirnituq are scarce and expensive. Both patients and accompanying family members should bring snacks, comfort items, and personal essentials for any hospital stay.
If travelling to Puvirnituq specifically to access care, book your Air Inuit flight in advance (1-800-361-5933) and confirm arrangements, as weather can significantly affect access to and from the community.
Inuktitut is spoken by Inuit staff, particularly in maternity and community care — do not hesitate to request language support if needed.
What to Bring
Quebec health insurance card (RAMQ) or applicable Indigenous health coverage documentation
Government-issued photo ID
Complete list of current medications and dosages
Any relevant medical records, test results, or specialist letters
Warm clothing and layers appropriate for the Arctic climate
Snacks and food supplies (food is very limited and costly in Puvirnituq)
Phone charger and personal entertainment for potential long waits or extended stays
Emergency contact information and next-of-kin details
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Centre de Santé Inuulitsivik have a doctor available at all times?
Yes. Family physicians are available for in-person consultation 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at the Puvirnituq hospital, making it one of the few truly around-the-clock physician-staffed facilities in remote northern Quebec.
What happens if I need surgery or specialist care that isn't available in Puvirnituq?
Patients requiring care beyond what is available on-site — such as surgery, obstetric emergencies requiring caesarean section, or specialist consultations — are evacuated by air to hospitals in the Montreal area. The Northern Quebec Module (Module du Nord québécois) coordinates care and support for Inuit patients transferred south. Average transport time to Montreal is approximately 12 hours, weather permitting.
Does Inuulitsivik offer maternity and midwifery services?
Yes. The Centre de Santé Inuulitsivik operates a world-renowned birth centre and midwifery program that has been active since 1986 — before midwifery was legally recognized anywhere in Canada. Midwives manage pregnancy follow-up, delivery, and up to 6 weeks of postpartum care. The program has been recognized by the World Health Organization, the International Confederation of Midwives, and the Canadian Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
Is mental health support available at this hospital?
Yes. The Aaniavituqarq Crisis Centre (also known as the Regional Intensive Care Centre / RICC) is located in Puvirnituq and provides highly structured crisis intervention and rehabilitation services for individuals experiencing acute mental health crises or presenting with complex behavioural needs.
What languages are spoken at Centre de Santé Inuulitsivik?
Clinical staff communicate in both French and English, with charting done in French and/or English. Inuktitut is also spoken by Inuit staff members, particularly midwives and community health workers, ensuring culturally appropriate care for Inuit patients and families.
How do I get to the hospital if I am flying into Puvirnituq?
Puvirnituq is accessible by air only — there are no roads, buses, or train services to the community. Air Inuit operates flights to the community; you can reach them at 1-800-361-5933. From the Puvirnituq airport, a van-taxi service will bring you to the hospital area in approximately 5 minutes.