The verdict in three sentences
For a community health network of 140 professionals near Rennes, France, a telemedicine platform built around tele-expertise between GPs and specialists solves an access problem first: getting a specialist opinion in 7 days instead of 45. Off-the-shelf SaaS costs 30 to 80 EUR per practitioner per month, while a custom Kolonell platform runs from 3,810 to 22,870+ EUR (2,500,000 to 15,000,000+ FCFA) depending on complexity, with certified health data hosting quoted separately. Plan 4 to 6 months for a compliant go-live.
What public insurance pays and what the law requires
In France, tele-expertise is no longer a pilot: the consulted doctor is paid 20 EUR per act by national health insurance, and the requesting doctor also receives a fee, within limits set by the medical agreement. Other European systems are moving the same way. For a doctors' group, the goal is to make this circuit simple, traceable and compliant without piling up tools.
| Requirement | What it means | Impact on the project |
|---|---|---|
| Health data hosting | HDS-certified host mandatory in France | Host chosen at scoping, cost quoted separately |
| Professional identification | Pro Santé Connect or health professional card | No passwords to manage |
| Patient identity | Qualified national health identifier (INS) | Avoids duplicate and mismatched records |
| Secure exchanges | Interoperability with the secure health messaging network (MSSanté) | Reports land in the doctor's usual inbox |
| Consent | Patient consent captured and logged | Time-stamped checkbox in each request |
| GDPR | Records of processing, impact assessment, retention periods | Documentation delivered during scoping |
| Billing the act | Data each practitioner needs to bill | Export to practice software |
The platform does not replace practice software: it orchestrates requests, attachments (dermatology photos, ECGs, lab results) and answers, then sends the report back to each doctor's own tools.
Market SaaS or the group's own platform
| Option | 2026 indicative cost | Benefits | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer teleconsultation SaaS | Free to 50 EUR per practitioner per month | Instant start | Poor fit for doctor-to-doctor expertise |
| Specialised tele-expertise SaaS | 30 to 80 EUR per practitioner per month | Compliance handled | Workflows imposed by the tool |
| Regional public platform | Free for professionals | Publicly funded | Generic pathways, slow updates |
| Kolonell, medium application | 6,100 to 10,670 EUR (4,000,000 to 7,000,000 FCFA) | Requests, answers, secure messaging, dashboard | Certified hosting quoted separately |
| Kolonell, complex application | 10,670 to 22,870+ EUR (7,000,000 to 15,000,000+ FCFA) | Teleconsultation, multiple pathways, reporting to the regional health agency | 6-month timeline |
| Kolonell maintenance | 53, 114 or 183 EUR per month | Updates and support | Depends on level |
A regional public platform remains a good starting point if the group only wants to test tele-expertise. Custom software takes over when the network wants its own pathways, such as dermatology with photos, cardiology with ECGs or geriatrics with an assessment grid, plus the indicators required by its funding agreement.
Pathways to prioritise
A 140-professional network usually includes 50 to 60 GPs, around fifteen private specialists, plus nurses, pharmacists and physiotherapists. The first three pathways cover most needs: dermatology (lesion photos), cardiology (ECGs and test results) and chronic wounds followed by nurses. Each pathway has its own form, mandatory attachments and target response time, for example 72 hours. The dashboard tracks request volume, median response time and unanswered requests, which the coordinator follows up.
Mini case study
Dr Le Gall, chair of a community health network near Rennes, compares two scenarios over 3 years. SaaS: 45 active practitioners at 50 EUR a month, or 2,250 EUR a month and 81,000 EUR over 3 years. Custom: a complex application estimated at 18,000 EUR, plus Premium maintenance at 183 EUR a month, or 6,588 EUR over 3 years, plus certified hosting quoted separately: about 24,600 EUR excluding hosting.
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On activity, the network targets 1,200 tele-expertise acts a year, or 24,000 EUR in fees for consulted doctors. Median time to a specialist opinion drops from 45 days to 7, and the coordinator expects to avoid 300 trips a year for elderly patients into Rennes.
FAQ
Can a doctors' network own a telemedicine platform?
Yes, the network's association can act as project owner and contract with the certified host and the developer. Part of the cost may fall under funded access-to-care missions, to be checked with the regional health agency and insurer.
Is certified health data hosting really mandatory?
Yes in France, as soon as the platform stores identifiable health data on behalf of others. Several hosts are certified and the monthly cost depends on volume, which is why it is quoted separately.
Do reports reach the doctor's own software?
Yes, through secure health messaging with the patient's national identifier, so they file into the patient record. The doctor does not retype the 2 or 3 lines of conclusion.
How long until the first pathway goes live?
A first dermatology pathway can open as a pilot after 3 months. The full platform with three pathways and the dashboard ships in 4 to 6 months.
What does maintenance cost after launch?
Kolonell maintenance costs 53, 114 or 183 EUR per month depending on the level. For a health platform, Premium is recommended for fast security patches.
Let's scope your project. We define your priority pathways, certified hosting and a 4 to 6 month go-live with your network's board. 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.
