Three Montreal doctors have traded their rounds at hospital emergency wards for their own private medical emergency clinic. The MD-Plus Medical Clinic opened its doors on Tuesday.

According to a statement announcing the clinic's grand opening, it answers, "an ever-increasing demand from the public for greater accessibility and quality of health services."

Promising patients treatment with "the most recent technology," the clinic will provide patients with a "warm atmosphere, discreet attention and meticulous care... linked to a personalized follow-up available at all times."

When they announced the venture in September, doctors Luc Bessette, Alain Chamoun and Christian Hobden promised their clinic would be better able to meet patients needs faster than public facilities.

"At least here, if you pay for something to us, you know where your money is going, and you know what service you're getting," said Hobden. "And you know we're going to spend time with you."

The doctors will handle minor emergency cases, do checkups, and provide MRI services.

But patients looking for a quick fix should leave their health cards at home, as the clinic accepts only cash or charge cards for services rendered.

A 20-minute consultation will cost patients at least $100. Other packages with names like "privileged client" that includes a checkup, a follow up and an emergency visit costs nearly $1,000.

Raising the issue in the House of Commons daily question period on Tuesday, NDP Leader Jack Layton accused the Liberals of sitting idly by, while a "hurricane" of health-care privatization blew across the nation.

"This perhaps wouldn't be a surprise, except that when they're seeking votes, they're promising to stop privatization," Layton said. "When is this minister... going to actually take some action to stop it?"

In response, Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh told the House, "We already did."

"We passed on $41 billion over the next 10 years to the provinces so that public health care is strengthened in this country."

"We support public delivery, we want to make sure the Canada Health Act is enforced across the country. If there's anything we can do under the Canada Health Act, it will be done."

Layton scoffed at the minister's response, calling it empty rhetoric.

Contrary to popular belief, according to Health Canada, private "for-fee" clinics that operate outside the public health system are perfectly legal.

In most provinces, so long as doctors relinquish their right to bill patients under their provincial health plans, they're free to open their own clinic to offer whatever services, at whatever fees, that they choose.

Alternately, health services can be delivered in private facilities, so long as insured patients aren't charged for insured health procedures.

Ontario, Nova Scotia and Manitoba are the exceptions, as laws in those three provinces prohibit so-called "de-enrolment."

Health Canada estimates that at least 80 doctors in Quebec have already decided to go private.

In the past, Quebec Health Minister Philippe Couillard has said he doesn't believe the three doctors' decision to leave public medicine portends a trend.