The verdict in three sentences
A clinic app combines two revenue levers: filling the schedule (fewer lost slots) and paid telehealth at a distance. SMS/notification reminders drop the no-show rate from about 25% to 8%, recovering directly billable consultations. Return on investment comes from these two combined flows, collected via Wave/Orange Money before the appointment.
The two engines of profitability
A missed slot is a pure loss: the doctor's time is reserved but unbilled. Cutting no-shows turns wasted hours into paid consultations. Telehealth adds a second engine: it captures patients who would not travel (follow-up, renewal, quick advice) and bills remotely, with secure upfront payment.
Development cost per tier (2026 order of magnitude)
| Tier | FCFA price | Included functions | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | 1,800,000-2,800,000 | Online schedule, booking, SMS reminders, Wave/OM payment | 4-6 weeks |
| Growth | 3,000,000-4,200,000 | + video telehealth, patient record, notifications, dashboard | 7-10 weeks |
| Premium | 4,500,000-5,500,000 | + multi-practitioner, prescription, analytics, automated reminders | 11-14 weeks |
Expected gains and ROI (2026 estimate)
| Indicator | Before app | After app |
|---|---|---|
| No-show rate | ~25% | ~8% |
| Slots recovered/day | — | 3-6 |
| Telehealth revenue | 0 | 5,000-15,000 FCFA/act |
| Reception time on bookings | High | -40 to -60% |
| Annual maintenance | — | 350,000-800,000 FCFA |
Framing: recovering 4 slots/day at 12,000 FCFA over 24 working days is about 1,150,000 FCFA/month of saved consultations — before telehealth. A Growth tier then repays in three to four months.
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Mini case study
Dr Ndiaye's clinic suffered about 25% no-shows on 40 appointments/day, i.e. 10 lost slots daily. After a Growth tier at 3,600,000 FCFA, no-shows fell to around 9%, recovering about 6 slots/day. At 12,000 FCFA per slot over 24 days, that is 1,728,000 FCFA/month of recovered consultations, plus around thirty monthly telehealth acts. The investment was covered in a little over two months.
FAQ
Do SMS reminders really cut no-shows? Yes, it is one of the most effective levers: a 24-hour reminder typically moves no-shows from ~25% to under 10%. Combined with a mobile money deposit, the effect is even stronger.
Does telehealth need a special licence? It must respect your medical board's ethical framework. The app provides the tool (video, record, payment); legal compliance rests with the practitioner.
Can you require a deposit at booking? Yes, requiring a Wave/Orange Money deposit at booking deters no-shows and secures cash. It is strongly recommended on high-demand slots.
How many practitioners does the app manage? The Premium tier handles multi-practitioner with separate schedules and payment splitting. Lower tiers suit one or two doctors.
Let's talk about your project. We build your clinic app with scheduling, SMS reminders, telehealth and Wave/Orange Money payment. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
