The verdict in three sentences
A private clinic in Dakar needs software that works even when connectivity drops: offline mode, cash desk connected to mobile money and insurance billing. In 2026, a full bespoke project costs 10 000 000 to 30 000 000 FCFA (about 15 000 to 46 000 EUR) over 4 to 6 months. The real return comes from lower unpaid claims and the end of double entry between records, cash desk and pharmacy.
Cost per module
Rather than building everything at once, a clinic gains by prioritising the modules that cut financial losses. Here are the 2026 orders of magnitude.
| Module | 2026 cost (FCFA) | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Electronic patient record | 3 000 000 - 7 000 000 | High |
| Cash desk + mobile money (Wave, Orange Money) | 2 500 000 - 5 000 000 | High |
| Insurance / IPM billing | 3 000 000 - 6 500 000 | High |
| Pharmacy and stock management | 2 500 000 - 5 500 000 | Medium |
| Offline mode + synchronisation | 1 500 000 - 3 500 000 | High |
| Scheduling and appointments | 1 000 000 - 2 500 000 | Medium |
A records + cash + offline core starts around 10 000 000 FCFA; adding insurance billing and pharmacy pushes toward 25 000 000 to 30 000 000 FCFA.
The crux: unpaid claims and mobile-money cash desk
In many Dakar clinics, losses come from poorly tracked insurance claims and cash discrepancies. Connecting the cash desk to mobile money and automating billing changes the equation.
| Lever | Common 2026 situation | After digitisation |
|---|---|---|
| Insurance unpaid rate | 12 - 18 % | 4 - 7 % |
| Collection delay | 60 - 90 days | 30 - 45 days |
| Monthly cash discrepancies | 150 000 - 400 000 FCFA | < 50 000 FCFA |
| Mobile money at the desk | Manual/off-system | Auto-reconciled |
| Medicine stock-outs | Frequent | Stock alerts |
| Cash closing time | 45 - 60 min/day | 10 - 15 min/day |
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Mini case study
Dr Ndiaye runs a 30-bed clinic in Dakar billing about 180 000 000 FCFA a year, 55 % of it via insurers and IPM. His unpaid rate reaches 15 %, roughly 27 000 000 FCFA tied up or lost. He invests 22 000 000 FCFA in a bespoke build (records + mobile-money cash + insurance billing + offline) delivered in 5 months. By cutting unpaid claims to 6 %, he recovers over 16 000 000 FCFA a year: the project pays for itself in the first year, before even the time saved at the desk and in the pharmacy.
FAQ
Why is offline mode essential? Because an internet outage must never block admissions or the cash desk; the tool works locally then syncs when the network returns (a 1 500 000 to 3 500 000 FCFA line item).
Can we take Wave and Orange Money at the desk? Yes, the cash desk connects to mobile money and auto-reconciles payments, removing most cash discrepancies.
How long to deploy? Expect 4 to 6 months for a full project including record migration, staff training and a parallel-running settling-in period.
Is insurance billing handled? Yes, the module structures insurance and IPM files to reduce rejections and shorten collection from 60-90 to 30-45 days.
Must everything be built at once? No, start with the records + cash + offline core (around 10 000 000 FCFA) then add pharmacy and insurance in stages according to your cash flow.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your bed count, share of insurance billing and payment methods, and we will prioritise modules by return on investment. 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.