The verdict in three sentences
A custom telemedicine platform for a 6-clinic network costs EUR 50,000 to 120,000 excl. VAT, plus EUR 300 to 1,000 per month for certified health data hosting (HDS in France). It makes sense once the network has more than 50 practitioners or wants to keep the patient relationship, its data and its brand. Plan for 5 to 6 months, including one month of security and compliance testing.
Consumer platform or your own: what changes
Consumer platforms are quick to switch on, but patients see the platform's brand first, slots are mixed with other providers and care pathway data stays with the vendor. A clinic network that wants to steer patients to its own consultations, track waiting times and connect telemedicine to its patient records is better off owning the tool.
| Criterion | Consumer platform | Custom platform |
|---|---|---|
| Entry cost | EUR 0 to 5,000 | EUR 50,000 to 120,000 excl. VAT |
| Recurring cost | EUR 79 to 149 per practitioner per month (2026 order of magnitude) | EUR 300 to 1,000 HDS + maintenance |
| Brand seen by the patient | The vendor's | The network's |
| Link to patient records | Limited or paid | Native integration (API, HL7 FHIR) |
| Specific pathways (pre-op, post-op follow-up) | No | Yes, per specialty |
| Ownership of pathway data | Vendor | Network |
| Time to launch | 1 to 2 weeks | 5 to 6 months |
2026 cost per module
| Module | Range (excl. VAT) | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| Booking and waiting queue | EUR 8,000 to 18,000 | Calendar per clinic, SMS reminders |
| End-to-end encrypted video | EUR 10,000 to 22,000 | WebRTC, waiting room, document sharing |
| E-prescription | EUR 8,000 to 20,000 | Signature, QR code, sending to pharmacy |
| Payment and third-party billing | EUR 6,000 to 15,000 | Card payment, electronic claim forms |
| Patient record integration | EUR 10,000 to 30,000 | Depends on the clinic software vendor |
| Patient mobile app | EUR 8,000 to 15,000 | iOS and Android |
| Total | EUR 50,000 to 120,000 | 5 to 6 months |
HDS hosting (certified health data hosting) is mandatory in France for any health data. It ranges from EUR 300 per month for a small setup to EUR 1,000 per month with high availability, logging and disaster recovery. Add EUR 1,000 to 2,000 per month for ongoing maintenance and monitoring.
Compliance: points you cannot miss
| Requirement | What it imposes | Budget impact |
|---|---|---|
| HDS hosting | Certified host, specific contract | EUR 300 to 1,000 per month |
| GDPR and DPIA | Impact assessment, register, DPO | EUR 3,000 to 6,000 |
| Patient identification (INS) | Verified national health identity | Included in integration |
| Pro Santé Connect | Practitioner authentication | EUR 2,000 to 5,000 |
| Penetration test | Audit before go-live | EUR 4,000 to 10,000 |
| Health insurance reimbursement | Compliance with care pathway rules | Rules configuration |
Mini case study
Dr Martin, medical director of a 6-clinic network in Lyon, has 80 practitioners doing teleconsultations. On a consumer platform at EUR 110 per practitioner per month, the cost is 80 x 110 x 12 = EUR 105,600 per year, i.e. EUR 316,800 over 3 years. The custom platform costs EUR 85,000 excl. VAT, plus EUR 700 per month of HDS hosting and EUR 1,500 of maintenance, i.e. EUR 26,400 per year. Over 3 years: 85,000 + 3 x 26,400 = EUR 164,200. Savings reach EUR 152,600, and the network keeps its patients, its post-operative pathways and its waiting-time statistics.
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FAQ
Is HDS hosting really mandatory?
Yes, in France any health data entrusted to a third party must be hosted by an HDS-certified provider. Budget EUR 300 to 1,000 per month depending on the required availability.
How long to launch the platform?
Count 5 to 6 months: 1 month of scoping, 3 months of development, 1 month of security testing and a pilot in one clinic. Rollout to the other 5 sites then takes 2 to 4 weeks.
Are teleconsultations still reimbursed?
Yes, if the pathway follows French health insurance rules, notably prior knowledge of the patient in most cases. The platform can block or flag out-of-scope appointments.
Can the platform connect to the clinic software?
Yes, through API or HL7 FHIR when the vendor exposes them. This item represents EUR 10,000 to 30,000 excl. VAT depending on the vendor and number of flows.
How many practitioners make it profitable?
As a 2026 order of magnitude, the threshold is around 40 to 50 active practitioners. Below that, a consumer subscription is usually cheaper over 3 years.
Let's scope your project. Tell us the number of clinics, practitioners and your patient record software: we will scope a platform between EUR 50,000 and 120,000 excl. VAT, HDS hosting included in the estimate, delivered in 5 to 6 months. 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.
