The verdict in three sentences
For a diagnostic imaging centre in Doha with MRI and CT across 3 sites, a website costs between USD 8,000 and 15,000 in 2026 with an online appointment booking module included in the upper range. The main payoff shows up at the call centre: around 40% of calls are about opening hours and exam preparation, questions a well-built site answers on its own. Plan for 6 to 8 weeks of work and hosting that complies with Qatar's Personal Data Privacy Protection Law (Law No. 13 of 2016), which treats health data as data of a special nature.
What the site should take over from the call centre
Reception staff at an imaging centre spend much of the day answering the same questions: do I need to fast before an abdominal CT, how long does an MRI take, which documents should I bring, which branch is open on Friday. Each answer takes 2 to 4 minutes while other patients wait on hold.
| Reason for calling | Estimated share of calls | Answer provided by the site | Content to produce |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hours and locations of the 3 branches | 15% | One page per branch with map, hours, parking | 3 branch pages |
| Exam preparation | 25% | One sheet per exam: fasting, contrast, duration | 12 to 20 exam sheets |
| Booking and rescheduling | 30% | Booking module with SMS reminders | Schedule per scanner and branch |
| Documents and insurance | 10% | Practical page: referral, insurance card, prior imaging | 1 practical FAQ page |
| Results turnaround and collection | 10% | Results page, secure access where available | 1 page and procedure |
| Other requests | 10% | Contact form and WhatsApp | Routing to reception |
Hours and preparation alone account for about 40% of calls. These are the contents to get right first, written with the radiologists and reviewed by the technologists.
2026 budget in USD: website, booking and options
The figures below are 2026 market estimates for Doha agencies and regional freelancers, to be confirmed by quote.
| Component | Indicative 2026 budget (USD) | Timeline | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Website 10 to 15 pages EN and AR | 5,000 to 9,000 | 4 to 6 weeks | Branches, exams, team, practical pages |
| Appointment booking module | 3,000 to 6,000 | 2 to 3 weeks | Slots per scanner, branch and exam type |
| Automatic SMS reminders | 0.03 to 0.06 per SMS | Ongoing | Fewer no-shows |
| Exam preparation sheets (copywriting) | 800 to 2,000 | 1 to 2 weeks | 12 to 20 sheets approved by a radiologist |
| Secure hosting, data compliance | 60 to 200 per month | Ongoing | Encryption, backups, access logs |
| Annual maintenance | 1,200 to 3,000 per year | Ongoing | Updates, security, new exams |
The gap between USD 3,000 and 6,000 for booking depends mainly on rule complexity: a contrast MRI is not booked like a standard X-ray, and each branch has different equipment. Integration with the centre's RIS can add USD 2,000 to 5,000 depending on the vendor.
Health data: rules to build into the specification
Booking data reveals health information. In Qatar, processing it falls under Law No. 13 of 2016, with stricter conditions for special-nature data, alongside Ministry of Public Health requirements. On the site, this means concrete choices.
| Requirement | Implementation on the site | Budget impact |
|---|---|---|
| Data minimisation | Form limited to name, phone, exam, referral | None |
| Encryption | HTTPS, encrypted database, no referrals sent by email | Included in hosting |
| Consent and notice | Clear notices, privacy policy in EN and AR | USD 200 to 600 for drafting |
| Retention period | Automatic purge of requests after a set period | USD 200 to 500 |
| Restricted access | Named accounts for reception, access log | Included in the module |
Mini case study
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Dr Al-Mansouri, radiologist and managing partner of an imaging centre in Doha with 3 branches (illustrative example), handles about 350 calls per working day. At 3 minutes per call, that is 17.5 hours of phone reception a day.
He invests USD 7,000 in the site and USD 4,500 in the booking module, so USD 11,500. If 40% of calls move to the site, the centre saves 7 hours of reception time a day, about 1,800 hours a year over 260 working days. With a receptionist costing around USD 2,000 a month, the equivalent of one full-time role is redeployed to front-desk care, and the project pays back in under 6 months.
FAQ
Does the site need Arabic and English?
Yes, in Doha both are expected by patients and insurers. Plan USD 1,000 to 2,500 for a well-adapted Arabic version with right-to-left layout.
Can patients upload their referral online?
Yes, through an encrypted upload in the booking module, never by email. This adds about USD 600 to 1,200 and reduces exam-type errors at booking.
Are SMS reminders worth the cost?
At USD 0.03 to 0.06 per SMS, 1,000 reminders cost under USD 60 a month. Even a modest drop in MRI no-shows covers that budget many times over.
How long until the site goes live?
Between 6 and 8 weeks, booking module included. Radiologists writing the preparation sheets is often what delays the project.
Should the site connect to the centre's RIS?
Not at launch. A standalone module works for 3 branches, and RIS integration, at USD 2,000 to 5,000, can come in phase 2.
Let's scope your project. Tell us about your branches, scanners and call volume, and we will propose a costed scope with booking included, delivered in 6 to 8 weeks. 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.
