The verdict in three sentences
Telemedicine opens medicine to patients far from cities, provided you collect before the call: one-tap Wave/OM payment eliminates unpaid visits. A remote consultation at 5,000-15,000 FCFA is settled instantly, with a PDF prescription sent by SMS or WhatsApp. The technical key is low-bandwidth video that holds on 3G, still dominant outside the capitals.
The economics of a telemedicine platform
Pay-before-call changes everything: no more unpaid free consultations, no more pointless travel. Here are observed consultation rates and platform cost.
| Item | 2026 range | Note |
|---|---|---|
| GP consultation | 5,000 - 8,000 FCFA | paid before call |
| Specialist consultation | 10,000 - 15,000 FCFA | Wave/OM |
| Mobile money fee | 1 - 1.5 % | who bears it TBD |
| Platform (dev) | 1,500,000 - 3,500,000 FCFA | video + payment + PDF |
| Maintenance | 60,000 - 120,000/mo | video servers |
Technical: holding on 3G
Perceived quality depends less on the camera than on network optimization. A platform designed for Africa favors audio, adaptive video and automatic fallback.
| Constraint | Solution | Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Low bandwidth | Adaptive video + audio priority | Stable call on 3G |
| Network drop | Auto reconnect | No restart from zero |
| Prescription | Signed PDF generation | SMS/WhatsApp delivery |
| Payment | Wave/OM before call | Zero unpaid |
| Proof | Timestamped report | Traceability |
In Lagos or Nairobi, the same model works with Paystack or M-Pesa and identical low-bandwidth video.
Mini case study
Dr Diallo, a GP in Thiès, wants to follow rural patients without a second office. He opens 3 hours of telemedicine/day = 12 slots at 6,000 FCFA prepaid via Wave = 72,000 FCFA/day. Over 20 days, that is 1,440,000 FCFA/month in extra revenue. With a platform at 2,200,000 FCFA and 90,000 FCFA/month maintenance, he reaches profitability in under two months, while covering a previously unreachable area.
FAQ
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Why charge before the call?
Because unpaid telemedicine is massive when you bill afterward. Wave/OM payment before the call guarantees collection and only locks the slot for a genuinely committed patient.
Does video work on a 3G connection?
Yes, if the platform is optimized: adaptive video, audio priority and auto reconnect. That is exactly what sets an Africa-designed solution apart from a plain Zoom.
How does the patient receive the prescription?
As a signed PDF, sent by SMS or WhatsApp right after the consultation. They can present it at the pharmacy with no paper document.
What does building a platform cost?
Between 1,500,000 and 3,500,000 FCFA depending on features (video, payment, prescription, calendar). Mobile money fees of 1 to 1.5 % apply to each transaction.
Is remote consultation legal?
Telemedicine is regulated but practicable, provided you respect consent, confidentiality and traceability of exchanges, as with an electronic patient record.
Let's talk about your project. We build your telemedicine platform with Wave/OM payment and 3G-optimized video. 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.
