The verdict in three sentences
A Dakar clinic or medical practice without online booking overloads its front desk and absorbs 15 to 25 % no-shows. A site with an online calendar, SMS/WhatsApp reminders and a deposit cuts those no-shows by more than half while freeing hours of phone duty. In 2026 the whole thing costs between 500,000 and 1,500,000 FCFA and must comply with law 2008-12 on personal data.
What a health site changes in practice
The patient wants to check your specialties, hours and address, then book without calling. A good health site clearly presents services and practitioners, offers online booking with real slots, sends automatic reminders the day before, and secures patient data.
| Feature | Measurable impact | Beneficiary |
|---|---|---|
| 24/7 online booking | +20 to 30 % bookings outside hours | Patient + practice |
| SMS/WhatsApp reminder D-1 | No-shows from ~20 % to ~8 % | Practice |
| Deposit at booking | No-shows cut 2 to 3x | Practice |
| Practitioner + specialty pages | Fewer information calls | Front desk |
| Teleconsultation (secure link) | Patients outside Dakar / diaspora | Practice |
Costs, timelines and compliance
| Tier | Price (FCFA) | Timeline | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | 500,000 – 700,000 | 8 to 12 days | Services, practitioners, hours, WhatsApp, map |
| Growth | 800,000 – 1,100,000 | 12 to 18 days | + Online calendar, SMS/WhatsApp reminders, secure form |
| Premium | 1,200,000 – 1,500,000 | 18 to 25 days | + Wave/OM deposit, teleconsultation, patient area, multilingual |
Law 2008-12 requires: clear consent to data collection, secure hosting (HTTPS, restricted access), limited retention and patient access rights. A booking form must never store sensitive medical data in plain text without encryption.
Mini case study
Dr Awa Ndiaye runs a 3-practitioner clinic in Mermoz. She sees 40 appointments/day with 20 % no-shows, i.e. 8 lost slots per day.
- At 15,000 FCFA per consultation, that is 120,000 FCFA/day of lost revenue, about 2,640,000 FCFA/month (22 days).
- With WhatsApp reminders + deposit, no-shows fall to ~8 %, i.e. 3 lost slots: 45,000 FCFA/day.
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Gain: ~75,000 FCFA/day, about 1,650,000 FCFA/month recovered. A 1,300,000 FCFA Premium site is paid back in under 4 weeks.
FAQ
Does a medical practice website respect patient confidentiality?
Yes if it is built for it: mandatory HTTPS, encrypted forms, front-desk-only access and compliance with law 2008-12. A medical record is never stored in plain text on the public site.
How does online booking reduce no-shows?
The automatic day-before reminder takes no-shows from about 20 % to 8 %, and a Wave/OM deposit cuts them another 2 to 3x. On 40 appointments/day that is up to 5 slots recovered.
How much does a site with an online calendar cost in Dakar?
Between 500,000 FCFA for a showcase and 1,500,000 FCFA for a Premium site with calendar, deposit and teleconsultation. Most practices choose the Growth tier around 800,000 to 1,100,000 FCFA.
Can we offer teleconsultation for the diaspora?
Yes, via a secure video link and a Wave/Orange Money deposit. It is in high demand for patients outside Dakar and the diaspora who want an opinion without travelling.
Let's talk about your project. We set up a compliant health site with online booking that lightens your front desk in the first week. 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.
