The verdict in three sentences
A custom patient portal costs 25,000 to 55,000 EUR excl. VAT in 2026 depending on features (booking, results, documents, payment). Strong authentication and HDS hosting are mandatory because the portal exposes health data outside the clinic. The ROI is twofold: -40 % secretariat calls and +25 % online bookings, which frees up human time and secures calendar fill rates.
What each building block costs
A portal is built feature by feature. You can start with a narrow scope and extend it. Here are the 2026 ranges.
| Feature | 2026 range (EUR excl. VAT) | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Online booking + calendar | 8,000 to 16,000 | 4 to 6 wks |
| Results / documents area | 6,000 to 14,000 | 3 to 5 wks |
| Strong authentication (2FA) | 3,000 to 7,000 | 2 to 3 wks |
| Secure online payment | 4,000 to 9,000 | 2 to 4 wks |
| Patient-practitioner messaging | 4,000 to 10,000 | 3 to 4 wks |
| Existing record / IS integration | 6,000 to 15,000 | 4 to 6 wks |
A minimum viable portal (booking + results + 2FA) starts around 25,000 EUR excl. VAT; a full portal with payment and messaging reaches 55,000 EUR excl. VAT.
Security and hosting: the non-negotiable foundation
Exposing a patient area on the Internet multiplies the attack surface. Security conditions go-live.
| Requirement | Detail | 2026 cost (EUR excl. VAT) |
|---|---|---|
| Certified HDS hosting | Mandatory for health data | 100 to 400 /month |
| Strong authentication | 2FA SMS or app | 3,000 to 7,000 |
| End-to-end encryption | TLS 1.3 + AES-256 | Included |
| Access logging | GDPR traceability | 2,000 to 5,000 |
| Penetration test | Before go-live | 3,000 to 8,000 |
| Security maintenance | Continuous patches | 12 to 18 % of build /year |
A pentest before launch (3,000 to 8,000 EUR excl. VAT) is strongly recommended: better to find a flaw before a patient or the regulator does.
Mini case study
Sophie, administrative director of a multi-specialty clinic in Bordeaux, employs 3 secretaries who handle about 2,800 calls/month, of which 60 % concern bookings or document requests. By deploying a portal at 38,000 EUR excl. VAT, calls drop by 40 %, i.e. 1,120 calls avoided/month. Each call takes on average 4 minutes, i.e. 1,120 × 4 = 4,480 minutes = ~75 hours/month freed. At a loaded cost of 22 EUR/hour, that means 1,650 EUR/month of time reassigned to front-desk and third-party payment. In parallel, online bookings rise +25 %, improving fill rates. The portal pays for itself in 20 to 24 months on the secretariat item alone, faster if the booking gains are valued.
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FAQ
Does a patient portal require HDS hosting?
Yes, as soon as it exposes health data (bookings, results, documents). HDS hosting costs 100 to 400 EUR excl. VAT/month and is a legal obligation, not an option.
Can the portal integrate with our existing software?
Yes, via API or connector. Integration with the patient record and calendar represents 6,000 to 15,000 EUR excl. VAT depending on your current software's technical openness.
Is online payment included?
It is a separate module of 4,000 to 9,000 EUR excl. VAT. It allows payment of consultations, deposits or remaining balances, and reduces unpaid bills.
How long to deliver a full portal?
Budget 3 to 5 months for a full scope (booking, results, payment, messaging), or 6 to 8 weeks for a minimal booking + results portal.
What concrete gain for the secretariat?
About -40 % of inbound calls on booking and document matters, i.e. dozens of hours freed each month and an improved front desk.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your priority features (booking, results, payment) and your existing software: we'll price an HDS portal and its secretariat ROI. 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.