The verdict in three sentences
As soon as software handles health data, certified health-data hosting (HDS) is not optional: it is mandated by French law. For a private clinic, this surcharge is 350-900 EUR/month, on top of compliance audit and data-protection officer. The real budget of a clinical system (patient records, operating-room scheduling) therefore reads in three lines: development, HDS hosting, and continuous compliance.
The cost of certified HDS hosting
HDS (Health Data Host) is a mandatory certification to store health data in France. OVHcloud and Scaleway offer HDS plans at comparable but non-trivial prices.
| Compliance item | 2026 order of magnitude |
|---|---|
| HDS hosting (OVHcloud / Scaleway) | 350-900 EUR/month |
| Data-protection audit | 6,000-12,000 EUR |
| Outsourced DPO | 4,000 EUR/year |
| AES-256 encryption at rest | mandatory |
| Access logging | mandatory |
| Daily encrypted backup | ~80-200 EUR/month |
| Impact assessment (DPIA) | 3,500-7,000 EUR |
AES-256 encryption and exhaustive access logging aren't comfort options: they're requirements to pass the audit and cover the director's liability.
The overall clinical software budget
HDS hosting adds to the cost of the software itself. Here's the typical budget structure for a mid-size clinic.
| Parameter | 2026 order of magnitude |
|---|---|
| Clinical software development | 60,000-95,000 EUR |
| Delivery timeline | 16-22 weeks |
| Annual HDS hosting | 4,200-10,800 EUR |
| Initial compliance audit | 6,000-12,000 EUR |
| DPO + compliance maintenance | ~6,000 EUR/year |
| Core modules | patient records, OR scheduling |
In year one, count the build plus 15,000-25,000 EUR of compliance and hosting: that's the entry cost to operate legally.
Mini case study
Dr. Ferrand, director of a 40-bed private clinic, budgets patient-record and OR-scheduling software at 78,000 EUR. He picks OVHcloud HDS hosting at 650 EUR/month (7,800 EUR/year), orders a compliance audit at 9,000 EUR and outsources his DPO at 4,000 EUR/year. Year-one cost: 78,000 + 7,800 + 9,000 + 4,000 = 98,800 EUR. Following years drop to about 18,000 EUR/year (hosting + DPO + maintenance). The gain: an optimized OR schedule cuts wasted slots, and the clinic estimates recovering 3-4 previously unscheduled procedures per month.
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FAQ
Is HDS hosting really mandatory?
Yes, whenever you store or process personal health data in France. A non-certified host exposes the clinic to regulatory sanctions and puts the director's liability on the line.
What's the price difference between OVHcloud and Scaleway?
Both are HDS-certified and sit in the 350-900 EUR/month range depending on resources. The gap comes mainly from sizing (CPU, storage, redundancy) rather than the certification itself.
How much is regulatory compliance?
Budget 6,000-12,000 EUR for the initial audit and impact assessment (DPIA), plus about 4,000 EUR/year for an outsourced DPO to maintain compliance over time.
Is AES-256 encryption enough?
It's the foundation, but it must be paired with access logging, encrypted backups and fine-grained permission management. The audit checks the whole setup.
Can we start small and scale up?
Yes. You can size HDS hosting tightly at launch (350-450 EUR/month) then increase resources as the record volume grows, without changing certification.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your bed count, target modules and data volume, and we price development, HDS hosting and compliance. 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.