The verdict in three sentences
In 2026, a custom patient management tool for a medical practice costs between 30,000 and 80,000 EUR, versus 40 to 150 EUR per month per practitioner for a certified market solution. Custom is justified for a group practice, a specialty with a specific protocol or a need for deep integration. Health-data and HDS compliance is not optional: it often represents 15 to 25% of the budget.
Certified solution or custom: the right choice
For a solo practitioner, a certified market solution is enough and costs little. Custom makes sense in a group practice or for a particular patient journey. 2026 order of magnitude.
| Criterion | Certified market solution | Kolonell custom |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 cost (5 practitioners) | 3,000 - 9,000 EUR | 30,000 - 80,000 EUR |
| Recurring cost/year | 3,000 - 9,000 EUR | 5,000 - 13,000 EUR |
| Time to deploy | Immediate - 1 month | 3 - 5 months |
| HDS hosting | Included | Included (certified partner) |
| Specific business protocol | No | Custom |
| Booking + reminders | Standard | Custom |
| Code ownership | No | Yes |
Over three years, a certified solution at 6,000 EUR/year totals 18,000 EUR: unbeatable for a small standard practice. Custom at 55,000 EUR plus 9,000 EUR/year reaches 73,000 EUR, justified only by a business need the market does not cover.
What compliance imposes on the budget
Health data is among the most sensitive. Here are the unavoidable compliance items in 2026.
| Compliance item | 2026 range (EUR) |
|---|---|
| HDS hosting monthly | 300 - 1,000 /month |
| Encryption at rest and in transit | 4,000 - 10,000 (setup) |
| Access management and traceability | 3,000 - 8,000 |
| GDPR register and consent | 2,500 - 6,000 |
| Audit and penetration test | 3,000 - 8,000 /year |
| Redundant encrypted backup | 1,500 - 4,000 /year |
These items are non-negotiable and protect the practitioner legally. They must be built into the first quote to avoid budget slippage mid-project.
Booking and reminders: the daily lever
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Online booking with SMS reminders cuts no-shows from 8 to 4% on average and frees front-desk time. Every recovered slot is a billed consultation, and every automated reminder avoids a manual call.
Mini case study
Dr Mercier works in a 6-practitioner group practice in Toulouse, 32,000 consultations/year, 8.5% no-show. By dropping to 4.5% via SMS reminders and online confirmation, the practice recovers roughly 1,280 consultations at 25 EUR margin, i.e. 32,000 EUR/year. Custom at 52,000 EUR plus 8,000 EUR/year pays back in about 20 months, on top of saved front-desk time.
FAQ
Must a practice use HDS hosting? Yes, as soon as identifiable patient data is stored. The cost ranges from 300 to 1,000 EUR/month depending on volume and redundancy.
Is custom worth it for a solo practitioner? Rarely: a certified solution at 40-150 EUR/month is enough. Custom is justified in a group practice or for a specific business protocol.
Are SMS reminders included? Yes, they belong to the recommended core, with online confirmation and cancellation handling. It is the first lever for cutting no-shows.
Can we migrate existing records? Yes, migration costs 5,000 to 15,000 EUR depending on source format. It must be scoped and priced in the quote.
How long to deploy? Expect 3 to 5 months for a group practice, including HDS compliance and staff training.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your number of practitioners, protocols and current tools, with an indicative budget between 30,000 and 80,000 EUR. 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.
