The verdict in three sentences
For a 30-practitioner medical centre, a custom patient portal with telehealth costs EUR 80,000 to 180,000 excl. VAT, plus EUR 800 to 2,500 per month for certified health-data hosting (HDS in France, C5-attested cloud in Germany), with a 6 to 9 month timeline. Market solutions at EUR 79 to 149 per practitioner per month remain cheaper in year one, but they impose their own journey, branding and booking rules. Custom is justified when the group wants a unique patient journey, integrated with its tools, on a platform carrying its own name rather than a consumer brand.
What the regulatory framework requires
As soon as a platform stores or processes health data on behalf of a provider, hosting must meet health-data requirements: HDS certification in France, and in Germany a cloud with a BSI C5 attestation for statutory health insurance use, as required since 2024 under the digital health laws. Video consultation must rely on a certified service (in Germany, a KBV-certified video provider) with end-to-end encryption and reliable patient identification. Under GDPR, a data protection impact assessment (DPIA) is mandatory and the DPO must sign off the architecture.
For consultations to be reimbursed, telehealth must follow insurer rules: traceability, documentation and, in many cases, an existing patient relationship. The platform must therefore connect to practitioners' practice management software rather than run in a silo.
2026 budget for a custom portal
| Module | Scope | 2026 budget (excl. VAT) |
|---|---|---|
| Scoping, DPIA and mock-ups | Patient journey, roles, compliance | EUR 8,000 - 15,000 |
| Patient accounts and identification | Sign-up, MFA, identity verification | EUR 10,000 - 20,000 |
| Multi-practitioner booking | Calendars, reasons, SMS and email reminders | EUR 12,000 - 28,000 |
| Telehealth (integrated certified video) | Waiting room, document sharing, report | EUR 15,000 - 40,000 |
| Patient document record | Prescriptions, reports, uploaded files | EUR 10,000 - 22,000 |
| Online payment and billing | Private fees, out-of-pathway consultations | EUR 6,000 - 15,000 |
| Practice software integration | Calendars, documents, identity | EUR 12,000 - 30,000 |
| Testing, pentest and go-live | Acceptance, security audit, training | EUR 7,000 - 10,000 |
| Total | EUR 80,000 - 180,000 | |
| Compliant hosting and managed services | Servers, backups, monitoring | EUR 800 - 2,500 / month |
The video component's cost depends on the chosen service: a compliant third-party provider billed per use reduces development but adds a per-minute or per-practitioner fee. These are 2026 estimates.
Custom build or market solution
| Criterion | Market solution | Custom portal |
|---|---|---|
| Cost for 30 practitioners | EUR 79 - 149 / practitioner / month, i.e. EUR 28,400 - 53,600 / year | EUR 80,000 - 180,000 + EUR 9,600 - 30,000 / year |
| 5-year cumulative cost (mid-range) | about EUR 205,000 | about EUR 230,000 |
| Brand and patient journey | The vendor's | The group's |
| Patient visibility on the platform | Exposed to other practitioners | Patients retained by the centre |
| Integration with internal tools | Limited to existing connectors | Built to your needs |
| Time to go live | 2 - 6 weeks | 6 - 9 months |
| Specific features | Vendor roadmap | Decided by the group |
Over 5 years the costs converge. The decision therefore hinges on control of the journey and the patient relationship, not on pure savings.
Mini case study
Dr Weber, director of a 30-practitioner medical centre in Berlin, currently pays EUR 119 per practitioner per month, or EUR 42,840 per year. He gets a custom portal quoted at EUR 135,000 excl. VAT, plus EUR 1,600 per month for compliant hosting (EUR 19,200 per year). Over 5 years: EUR 214,200 for the current solution, EUR 231,000 for custom. The EUR 16,800 gap is covered if the portal prevents 3 no-shows per week through reminders and a smart waiting list: 3 x EUR 30 x 46 weeks = EUR 4,140 per year, or EUR 20,700 over 5 years, before counting the value of an own brand.
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FAQ
How much does a telehealth patient portal cost in 2026?
Allow EUR 80,000 to 180,000 excl. VAT for a centre with 20 to 50 practitioners, depending on practice software integration. Compliant hosting adds EUR 800 to 2,500 per month.
Is certified health-data hosting mandatory?
Yes, in France (HDS) as soon as the platform hosts health data for a provider, and in Germany C5-attested cloud is required for insurer-funded use. Standard uncertified hosting exposes the centre to sanctions.
How long does it take to launch?
Usually 6 to 9 months, including 1 to 2 months of scoping and DPIA, and a 3 to 4 week pilot with 3 to 5 practitioners.
Are telehealth consultations reimbursed?
Yes, if they follow insurer rules: traceability, documentation and often an existing patient relationship. The portal must record these elements.
Can we start with a smaller scope?
Yes: booking and documents first (about EUR 50,000 to 80,000), telehealth in a second phase.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your number of practitioners, your practice software and your priorities (booking, video, documents): we will price the portal, compliant hosting and a phased launch. 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.
