The verdict in three sentences
A custom telemedicine platform for a clinic sits between 40,000 and 100,000 EUR in 2026, versus a health SaaS subscription of 1,000 to 5,000 EUR/month plus per-consultation fees. Custom wins when telemedicine must integrate with the existing patient record and billing, without re-entry. Three bricks make or break the project: secure video, e-prescription and compliant health hosting — the rest is comfort.
Custom platform or health SaaS?
A health SaaS starts fast but locks you into its ecosystem, bills per consultation and lives beside your EHR. Custom costs more upfront but integrates with the patient record, removes per-consultation fees and makes you the owner of the patient relationship and data.
| Criterion | Health SaaS | Custom Kolonell |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | 0-5,000 EUR | 40,000-100,000 EUR |
| Monthly cost | 1,000-5,000 EUR + per-act fees | 500-1,500 EUR (compliant hosting) |
| Cumulative 2-year cost | 30,000-130,000 EUR | 52,000-118,000 EUR |
| EHR integration | Low or absent | Native |
| Per-consultation fee | 1-4 EUR/act | None |
| E-prescription | Depends on plan | Included |
| Data ownership | No | Yes |
Beyond 400 teleconsultations/month, the SaaS per-act fees quickly catch up with the cost of an amortized custom build.
The bricks and their budget
The budget is structured around compliance and integration, not gadgets.
| Brick | Range (EUR) | Stake |
|---|---|---|
| Secure encrypted video | 10,000-22,000 | Quality + confidentiality |
| E-prescription | 7,000-16,000 | Remote prescribing |
| Online payment (card, mobile) | 5,000-12,000 | Immediate collection |
| EHR + billing integration | 8,000-20,000 | Zero re-entry |
| Compliant hosting + security (year 1) | 9,000-18,000 | Mandatory compliance |
| Virtual waiting room + reminders | 4,000-10,000 | Smooth pathway |
A clinic starts with video + prescription + payment + EHR integration, a core around 45,000-65,000 EUR.
Mini case study
Claire, director of a general clinic on the outskirts of Berlin, wanted to open telemedicine to decongest in-person consultations and reach distant patients. She invested 68,000 EUR in a custom platform integrated with the EHR and billing.
Over 12 months: the clinic runs about 520 teleconsultations/month at 25 EUR, or 156,000 EUR of annual revenue on this channel. On SaaS, per-act fees (about 3 EUR) would have cost close to 18,700 EUR/year, plus the monthly subscription. Native EHR integration removes re-entry, saving the equivalent of 0.3 FTE admin. Estimated payback in about 10 months.
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
FAQ
Is compliant health hosting mandatory for telemedicine?
Yes, as soon as you store named health data and medical video exchanges. Budget 9,000 to 18,000 EUR in the first year with a certified provider.
Is the video really secure?
Yes, end-to-end encrypted video streams, no consultation storage, with strong authentication of both practitioner and patient. It is a compliance requirement, not an option.
Can we prescribe remotely?
Yes, e-prescription is included and integrated with the patient record. It can be sent to the patient and pharmacy per the applicable regulatory framework.
How is the teleconsultation paid?
Online before or after the act (card, mobile payment), with immediate collection and an automatically generated invoice, with no per-act fee unlike SaaS.
How long to launch telemedicine?
Between 5 and 8 months for a full scope integrated with the EHR. A first video + payment version can open earlier, as a pilot.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your target teleconsultation volume and current EHR: we frame a platform between 40,000 and 100,000 EUR with compliant hosting. 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.
