The verdict in three sentences
A practice managing appointments in a notebook loses 15 to 25 % of its slots to no-shows and double bookings. An app with a shared calendar, patient records and SMS reminders cuts missed appointments by 30 to 40 % and saves hours of admin. For a practice of 2 to 5 practitioners, the tool pays for itself in under 12 months.
Custom or SaaS: the right trade-off
A medical SaaS starts fast and smooths the cost; custom fits your specialties, billing and insurer conventions, and keeps you the owner of patient data. 2026 order of magnitude.
| Criterion | SaaS solution | Custom app |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | 0 to 500,000 FCFA | 1,500,000 to 3,500,000 FCFA |
| Monthly subscription | 20,000 to 75,000 FCFA | 0 to 40,000 FCFA (hosting) |
| Time to launch | 1 to 3 weeks | 6 to 10 weeks |
| Fit to specialties | Low to medium | Total |
| Data location | Often abroad | Your choice (local possible) |
| 3-year cost (estimate) | 720,000 to 3.2 M FCFA | 1.5 to 4 M FCFA |
The impact of SMS reminders on no-shows
The automatic reminder is a practice's most profitable lever. Here is the estimated effect for a practice running 1,200 consultations/month at 15,000 FCFA on average.
| Indicator | Without reminders | With SMS reminders | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| No-show rate | 18 to 25 % | 11 to 15 % | -30 to 40 % |
| Slots lost / month | 220 to 300 | 130 to 180 | approx. -90 to 150 |
| Lost revenue / month | 3.3 to 4.5 M FCFA | 2 to 2.7 M FCFA | up to 1.8 M recovered |
| SMS cost / month | 0 | 30,000 to 60,000 FCFA | marginal |
| Front-desk time / day | 3 to 4 h | 1 to 2 h | -50 % |
Confidentiality and compliance
The patient record holds health data, among the most sensitive there is. Senegal's Law 2008-12 requires consent, role-restricted access, access logging and security. A well-designed app encrypts data, manages fine-grained rights (doctor, secretary, accountant) and allows secure export.
Mini case study
Dr. Ndiaye leads a 3-practitioner clinic in Dakar. With a 22 % no-show rate on 1,200 consultations/month at 15,000 FCFA, he was losing about 4 M FCFA/month in slots. He invests 2,600,000 FCFA in a custom app with SMS reminders. No-shows drop to 14 %: he recovers about 150 slots/month, i.e. 2.2 M FCFA of additional revenue, for 45,000 FCFA of SMS. Even counting just one month of net gain, the app is repaid in 6 to 8 weeks.
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FAQ
How much does a medical practice app cost in 2026?
Order of magnitude 1.5 to 3.5 M FCFA depending on modules (calendar + records + reminders + billing). Hosting and maintenance: 20,000 to 40,000 FCFA/month.
Do SMS reminders really work?
Yes: they reduce no-shows by 30 to 40 % on average. Combined with patient confirmation, the effect is even stronger.
Is my patient data protected?
It must be: Law 2008-12 requires restricted access, traceability and security. Custom enables local hosting and role-based rights.
Can billing and insurers be integrated?
Yes. A custom app handles quotes, invoices, third-party payment and conventions, with accounting export.
How long to deploy?
6 to 10 weeks for custom; 1 to 3 weeks for a ready-made SaaS.
Let's talk about your project. We'll size your app around your number of practitioners and your specialties. 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.
