The owner of a private medical clinic in Gatineau predicts he'll have more patients once Quebecers allowed to buy private health-care insurance.

Marcelin Chaumont says he's pleased the Supreme Court of Canada has made it easier for Quebec residents to get faster medical care.

Chaument opened the Sentinelle Plus clinic about six months ago.

He has about 150 clients, who pay $150 for a 20-minute visit or $225 for a 40-minute physical, Chaument says.

His patients are willing and able to pay that kind of money so they can get quick medical attention, always within three weeks, Chaument says.

However, not everyone can afford his service, so that's why his clinic is open only three days a week.

"We don't have enough customer to continue for five days a week," Chaument, a former Quebec health bureaucrat, said Thursday. "And it's not easy to find a doctor to come to practice because they're not sure about the private system.

But Chaument says Thursday's ruling will remove some of the stigma surrounding private medical clinics.

He figures doctors will be more willing to join him if they're confident they'll be seeing more patients. And he says more patients will be able to afford his service, if private insurance becomes available.

There is no shortage of potential clients. Chaument says there are at least 20,000 people in the Outaouais without a family doctor.