The verdict in three sentences
An imaging centre performing 180 exams a day can no longer run bookings by phone and reports on USB sticks without losing slots and revenue. The right answer in 2026 is a custom management layer that integrates with your existing RIS and PACS, handles direct insurance billing and publishes reports online. Budget about USD 30,000 to 65,000 (the TND 90,000 to 200,000 range of our Tunis benchmark) and 5 months of rollout, with ROI driven mostly by scanner utilisation.
The hidden cost of an under-equipped imaging centre
In a Dubai centre with a CT scanner, an MRI, ultrasound and a conventional X-ray room, the front desk handles 400 to 600 calls a day. No-shows are not replaced, insurance claims are re-keyed, and referring physicians chase reports.
| Indicator | Common situation (2026 estimate) | With an integrated platform |
|---|---|---|
| Inbound calls per day | 400 to 600 | 150 to 250 |
| Appointments booked online | 0% | 40 to 55% |
| No-show rate | 8 to 12% | 3 to 5% (SMS reminders) |
| MRI utilisation | 78% | 88 to 92% |
| Time to report availability | 24 to 48 h | 2 to 6 h |
| Insurance claim rejections | 6 to 9% | Under 2% |
| Patient re-keying between front desk and RIS | Systematic | None |
In the Tunis benchmark an MRI is billed about TND 350 (around USD 115; Dubai tariffs are several times higher): gaining 8 points of utilisation on 30 daily exams means about 2.4 extra exams a day, close to TND 20,000 (about USD 6,500) of extra monthly revenue, and proportionally more at Dubai prices.
Scope and price of a custom platform
The principle is not to replace the RIS and PACS, which are often tied to modalities and vendor contracts, but to build the patient, referrer and billing layer around them.
| Module | Function | Indicative budget (TND excl. tax, about USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Online booking | Slots per modality, preparation, SMS reminders | 18,000 to 35,000 (6,000 to 11,500) |
| RIS integration (HL7, worklist) | Automatic creation of patient record and order | 15,000 to 35,000 (5,000 to 11,500) |
| PACS integration (DICOM, web viewer) | Secure image access | 12,000 to 30,000 (4,000 to 10,000) |
| Direct insurance billing | Eligibility checks, claims batches, rejection follow-up | 15,000 to 40,000 (5,000 to 13,000) |
| Patient and referrer portal | Reports and images online | 15,000 to 35,000 (5,000 to 11,500) |
| Management dashboard | Utilisation, turnaround, revenue per modality | 15,000 to 25,000 (5,000 to 8,000) |
| Total | Full platform | 90,000 to 200,000 (30,000 to 65,000) |
Maintenance and secure hosting add TND 1,500 to 4,000 (about USD 500 to 1,300) per month depending on online image traffic and the uptime required.
Integrations, security and compliance
Health data imposes precise technical choices. In Dubai, the DHA and the UAE health data law (Federal Law No. 2 of 2019) govern processing and in-country storage, and online reports must be protected by strong authentication.
| Requirement | Chosen solution | Impact on timeline |
|---|---|---|
| RIS exchanges | HL7 v2 messages and DICOM worklist | 3 to 4 weeks |
| Image viewing | DICOMweb-compatible web viewer | 2 to 3 weeks |
| Patient access to results | One-time SMS code, 30-day expiry | 1 week |
| Regulatory file | Prepared with the centre for the health authority | In parallel |
| Hosting | In-country servers, encrypted daily backup | None |
| Traceability | Per-user access log | Included |
The typical schedule runs 5 months: one month of scoping with the managing radiologist and the RIS vendor, three months of development, one month of testing and progressive cutover by modality.
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Mini case study
Dr Sami, managing radiologist of an imaging centre (CT, MRI, 180 exams a day), chooses a platform at TND 140,000 excl. tax (about USD 45,000) with maintenance of TND 2,500 (about USD 800) per month. The no-show rate drops from 10% to 4%: out of 180 exams, 10 slots are recovered each day, 6 of them actually filled, at an average of TND 180 across modalities, so TND 1,080 per day and about TND 23,700 (USD 7,700) per month over 22 working days. The front desk reassigns 2 of 6 staff to reception and insurance follow-up. The project pays back in 6 to 7 months, faster at Dubai tariffs.
FAQ
Do we need to replace our RIS or PACS?
Not in most cases. The platform connects to the existing systems through HL7 and DICOM, avoiding a replacement that would often cost more than USD 50,000.
How much does imaging centre management software cost?
A full custom platform costs about USD 30,000 to 65,000. A first phase limited to online booking and SMS reminders can start around USD 8,000.
Can direct insurance billing be automated?
Largely: eligibility checks, claims batches and rejection tracking. Centres typically go from 6 to 9% rejections to under 2%.
Do patients really view results online?
Yes, 60 to 75% of patients use the SMS link within 48 hours, which sharply reduces desk pickups and calls.
How long until we are operational?
Allow 5 months for the full platform, with online booking live from the third month.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your modalities, current RIS and PACS and daily volume: we will price a platform between USD 30,000 and 65,000, live in 5 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.
