The verdict in three sentences
A custom-built management system for an Abidjan polyclinic (appointments, patient records, insurance billing) costs between 9,000,000 and 28,000,000 FCFA depending on modules, over a 12 to 22 week timeline. The two non-negotiable 2026 requirements are offline mode (network outages) and integrated mobile payment (Wave, Orange Money). On a volume of 30,000 consultations/year, cutting no-shows by 20% and firming up insurance billing is enough to pay back the investment in under two years.
What each building block costs in 2026
A polyclinic has different needs from a solo practice. Here is a 2026 order of magnitude per module, for Abidjan.
| Module | Timeline | Price FCFA | Price EUR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Booking + SMS reminders | 3 wks | 3,000,000 | 4,570 |
| Electronic patient record | 4-6 wks | 6,500,000 | 9,910 |
| Insurance / third-party billing | 3-4 wks | 4,500,000 | 6,860 |
| Wave / Orange Money mobile payment | 2-3 wks | 2,500,000 | 3,810 |
| Offline mode + synchronisation | 3 wks | 3,500,000 | 5,335 |
| Management dashboard | 2 wks | 2,000,000 | 3,050 |
The essential core (booking, record, payment) starts around 9,000,000-12,000,000 FCFA; a full multi-site polyclinic climbs toward 28,000,000 FCFA.
The impact of no-shows and mobile payment
Missed appointments and manual collections are a clinic's two economic wounds. Simulation over 30,000 consultations/year.
| Metric | Before software | After software |
|---|---|---|
| No-show rate | 18% | 8% |
| Lost consultations/year | 5,400 | 2,400 |
| Average consultation ticket | 15,000 FCFA | 15,000 FCFA |
| Revenue recovered/year | - | 45,000,000 FCFA |
| Insurance collection delay | 75 days | 40 days |
| Monthly hosting | - | 150,000-400,000 FCFA |
SMS reminders and mobile payment at booking turn 3,000 phantom consultations into real revenue: the order of magnitude far exceeds the cost of the software.
Mini case study
Dr Kouassi, director of a 6-physician polyclinic in Cocody, Abidjan, runs 30,000 consultations/year with an 18% no-show rate. Dropping to 8% via SMS reminders and a Wave deposit at booking recovers 3,000 consultations x 15,000 FCFA = 45,000,000 FCFA/year. Even deducting a 16,000,000 FCFA build and 300,000 FCFA/month hosting (3,600,000 FCFA/year), the first-year net gain nears 25,000,000 FCFA. Firming up insurance billing, which shortens collection from 75 to 40 days, further improves cash flow.
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FAQ
Does it work without internet?
Yes: offline mode lets you view and enter records and appointments even during an outage, syncing automatically when the network returns. It is essential in Abidjan and covered by a module at about 3,500,000 FCFA.
Can patients pay via Wave or Orange Money?
Yes, mobile payment is integrated into the booking and checkout flow. Asking for a deposit at booking is the most effective lever to cut no-shows.
How long to deploy?
Between 12 and 22 weeks. A booking + record + payment core ships in 12 weeks; adding multi-site insurance billing and offline mode pushes toward 22.
Is the patient record compliant and secure?
Access is logged and encrypted, with roles per profile (physician, cashier, management). Hosting can be regional with daily backups, for 150,000 to 400,000 FCFA/month.
Can several clinics in the same group be connected?
Yes, multi-site architecture shares patients and reporting across facilities. That is what pushes the budget toward the top of the range, around 28,000,000 FCFA.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your consultation volume, partner insurers and sites: we frame a scope from 9,000,000 FCFA. Detailed quote within 48 h. 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.
