The verdict in three sentences
A clinic group that launches teleconsultation on a consumer video tool loses medical traceability, payments and patient trust. A custom platform integrated with the patient record, with e-prescriptions and Wave, Orange Money or card payment before the session, costs 25 to 45 million FCFA (about EUR 38,000 to 69,000) in 2026 for 3 clinics, delivered in 16 weeks. At 1,200 consultations a month, 30% paid from the diaspora, the project pays for itself in under a year.
Why custom makes sense for a group
European telemedicine platforms are designed for fibre and bank cards. In Dakar, some patients connect on unstable 4G or 3G in the regions, and most pay with mobile money. Diaspora patients pay by card in euros for a relative in Senegal. The platform must therefore adapt video quality to bandwidth, switch to audio-only below 150 kbit/s and collect payment before the consultation to eliminate no-pays.
The second issue is regulatory: health data is sensitive data under Senegal's Law 2008-12, and its processing must be declared to and authorised by the CDP (the national data protection authority). Encryption, hosting and access logging must be designed in from the start.
| Criterion (2026 order of magnitude) | Consumer video + WhatsApp | Custom platform |
|---|---|---|
| Consultation on weak networks | frequent drop-outs | automatic audio-only below 150 kbit/s |
| Payment before session | manual, 15% unpaid | Wave, Orange Money, card, unpaid < 2% |
| Record in patient file | none | report and prescription attached |
| E-prescription | photo of paper | signed PDF with verifiable QR code |
| CDP compliance | undocumented | declaration file and access log |
| Diaspora patients | hard to bill | EUR payment, SMS and email reminders |
Modules and pricing
| Module | Indicative 2026 price (FCFA excl. tax) | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Booking, doctor calendars, virtual waiting room | 4,000,000 - 7,000,000 | 3 weeks |
| Adaptive video and audio fallback, consent recording | 6,000,000 - 11,000,000 | 4 weeks |
| Integration with existing patient records | 4,000,000 - 8,000,000 | 3 weeks |
| E-prescription and consultation report | 3,000,000 - 5,000,000 | 2 weeks |
| Wave, Orange Money, card payment and invoicing | 3,000,000 - 6,000,000 | 2 weeks |
| Security, hosting, CDP compliance, testing | 5,000,000 - 8,000,000 | 2 weeks |
| Total for 3 clinics | 25,000,000 - 45,000,000 | 16 weeks |
Recurring costs run at about 600,000 to 1,200,000 FCFA a month (EUR 900 to 1,800) for secure hosting, video minutes, SMS and maintenance. Mobile money transaction fees stay around 1% per payment.
Conditions for success
Technology is not enough: you need dedicated doctor slots, clear pricing (for example 10,000 FCFA locally and EUR 25 for the diaspora) and a journey tested with real patients on entry-level phones. A 4-week pilot on a single specialty, often general practice or paediatrics, lets you calibrate before opening to all 3 clinics.
Mini case study
Dr Ndiaye, medical director of a group of 3 clinics in Dakar, targets 1,200 teleconsultations a month. 840 local consultations at 10,000 FCFA bring in 8.4 million FCFA, and 360 diaspora consultations at EUR 25 (about 16,400 FCFA) bring in 5.9 million FCFA, i.e. 14.3 million FCFA a month. After paying doctors 50% and 1 million in recurring costs, the margin is about 6.1 million FCFA a month. For a 38 million FCFA project, payback comes around month 7, or around month 12 if ramp-up takes 6 months.
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
FAQ
How much does a custom telemedicine platform cost in Dakar in 2026?
Budget 25 to 45 million FCFA for a 3-clinic group with patient record integration. A single-clinic version without integration starts around 15 million FCFA (about EUR 23,000).
Does the video work on a weak connection?
Yes, quality adapts to bandwidth and the consultation switches to audio-only below 150 kbit/s. Testing is done on smartphones costing under 60,000 FCFA.
Is CDP authorisation required?
Yes, health data is sensitive under Law 2008-12 and its processing must be declared to the CDP. The compliance file is included in the security module.
How do diaspora patients pay?
By card in euros before the session, or via Wave from abroad where the service is available. Payment is confirmed by webhook before the virtual room opens.
Do pharmacies accept the e-prescription?
It is issued as a signed PDF with a QR code that lets the pharmacist verify it in seconds. Plan to brief partner pharmacies at launch.
Let's scope your project. Teleconsultation, patient records, mobile money payment and CDP compliance: we define the scope, an indicative budget in FCFA and the pilot schedule. 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.
