24/7 access to certified radiologists providing rapid, accurate remote interpretation of diagnostic imaging studies.
Scope, project management & OEM documentation
Biomedical & IT teams deployed nationwide
Dedicated service desk for Nigerian facilities
A Tele-Radiology Service connects your facility's imaging equipment—like CT scanners, MRIs, and X-ray machines—to a network of remote, specialist radiologists who read the images and send back diagnostic reports. It is essential for hospitals, diagnostic centres, and clinics that lack on-site radiologists, need sub-specialty expertise (e.g., neuroradiology, musculoskeletal), or require 24/7 coverage to reduce patient wait times and improve diagnostic accuracy. This service solves critical pain points like radiologist shortages, high costs of hiring full-time specialists, and delays in patient diagnosis, especially for emergency cases outside of standard working hours. We typically serve multi-specialist hospitals in Lagos and Abuja, government teaching hospitals nationwide, private diagnostic chains, and NGO-supported health programs in remote or underserved states that need to provide advanced diagnostic capabilities without the overhead of full-time staff.
A basic pay-per-study Tele-Radiology service can range from NGN 8,000 - NGN 25,000 per report, depending on the modality and complexity. A fully managed service with dedicated PACS/RIS integration and a monthly retainer starts from NGN 350,000 - NGN 1,500,000 per month for a small to medium-sized facility. A complete turnkey solution, including the provision of PACS hardware, software, integration, and reporting services, can involve an initial setup cost of NGN 5,000,000 - NGN 20,000,000+, with ongoing monthly service fees. Cost drivers include the number and type of modalities (e.g., a 128-slice CT is more data-intensive than a plain X-ray), the required report turnaround time (STAT vs. routine), the number of user licenses for your clinicians, on-premise vs. cloud data storage, and the level of integration with your existing Hospital Information System (HIS). Travel for initial setup and training to locations outside major hubs like Lagos or Abuja also adds to the cost.
Contact Franance to get a detailed cost breakdown tailored to your facility's specific needs.
The absolute cheapest option is a basic, ad-hoc, pay-per-study service costing between NGN 8,000 - NGN 15,000 per standard X-ray or ultrasound report. This price typically excludes any form of system integration, meaning your staff must manually upload studies to a web portal. It also omits critical features like long-term image archiving, quality assurance reporting, technical support for your imaging equipment, and guaranteed turnaround times. The hidden costs manifest as workflow inefficiencies, potential data privacy breaches from using unsecured platforms, lack of audit trails for donor-funded projects, and significant delays in receiving reports for critical cases, which directly impacts patient outcomes.
A cheap service that compromises on quality and reliability is a risk to your patients and your reputation; contact Franance for a transparent, value-driven quote.
An affordable, value-optimized Tele-Radiology service is a bundled monthly plan, typically costing between NGN 400,000 and NGN 950,000 per month. This model provides a predictable operational expense and delivers far more value than a simple pay-per-study arrangement. The bundle usually includes a set number of reports per month, integration with your primary imaging modality (e.g., your GE Healthcare Optima CT scanner), a cloud-based mini-PACS for image storage and viewing, and dedicated technical support. This approach eliminates the administrative burden of manual uploads, ensures consistent report quality and format, and provides your clinicians with direct access to images and reports through a secure portal, improving collaboration and diagnostic speed.
Franance can design an affordable, bundled service that matches your clinical needs and budget.
An Annual Maintenance Contract (AMC) for a Tele-Radiology platform, covering only software updates, remote support, and user management, can range from NGN 1,200,000 to NGN 5,000,000 annually. A Comprehensive Maintenance Contract (CMC), which includes all aspects of the AMC plus management of the on-premise PACS server hardware, network components, and potentially the cost of data storage, ranges from NGN 3,000,000 to NGN 15,000,000+ annually. The key difference is that a CMC transfers the risk of hardware failure and associated replacement costs to the service provider, ensuring total system uptime and predictable budgeting for your facility.
| Feature | AMC (Annual Maintenance Contract) | CMC (Comprehensive Maintenance Contract) |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Software support, remote troubleshooting, user training | Includes all AMC items + hardware (servers, network) + parts & labour |
| Cost | Lower, fixed annual fee | Higher, all-inclusive annual fee |
| Hardware Failure | Your facility bears the cost of repair/replacement | Covered by the service provider |
| Budgeting | Unpredictable (risk of high-cost hardware failure) | Fully predictable, fixed operational expense |
| Uptime | Dependent on your ability to quickly repair hardware | Higher guaranteed uptime due to provider's responsibility |
| Best For | Facilities with strong in-house IT/biomedical teams | Facilities wanting to outsource all technical risk and ensure maximum uptime |
A CMC from Franance offers complete peace of mind, guaranteeing the performance of your entire Tele-Radiology ecosystem.
Click here to get a customized, no-obligation quote from Franance for your Tele-Radiology service needs.
You can find Tele-Radiology service providers primarily based in major commercial hubs like Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt, though many offer nationwide remote services. The selection process should involve identifying providers through professional networks, online searches for "Tele-Radiology Nigeria," and referrals from other hospitals. Crucially, you must conduct thorough due diligence beyond their marketing claims. Verify their Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) registration (RC number), ask for proof of their radiologists' credentials and sub-specialty training, and request references from current clients of a similar size and scope to your facility. Franance simplifies this by pre-vetting all our technology partners and clinical groups, ensuring they meet stringent corporate, technical, and regulatory standards before we even present them as an option.
Let Franance connect you with our network of verified, high-quality Tele-Radiology partners across Nigeria.
Franance provides a fully managed, end-to-end Tele-Radiology service that combines best-in-class technology with a verified network of specialist radiologists, all managed under a single, comprehensive SLA. Our service covers the entire lifecycle, from initial needs assessment and workflow design to system integration, user training, and ongoing 24/7 technical and clinical support. We have physical engineering presence in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Kano, enabling us to provide rapid on-site support for any integration or hardware challenges, a unique capability that purely remote providers cannot match.
The best Tele-Radiology service provider is one that acts as a true clinical partner, not just a technology vendor. They offer a combination of a robust, secure technology platform, a deep bench of certified sub-specialist radiologists, and a transparent, enforceable SLA. Top providers demonstrate extensive experience with a wide portfolio of Nigerian hospitals, from large teaching hospitals to private diagnostic chains. They have a high ratio of support engineers to clients, ensuring rapid response, and they provide detailed, actionable reports that help you optimize your radiology department's performance. Franance is a leading provider because we integrate all these elements under one roof, managed by a single contract and a single point of accountability.
A standard Tele-Radiology Service Scope of Work (SOW) includes the initial system setup and integration, user training, ongoing remote radiological reporting, and continuous technical support. The process is phased, typically starting with a 1-2 week technical assessment and workflow analysis. This is followed by a 2-4 week implementation phase, which involves configuring the gateway/VPN, connecting your imaging modalities, and setting up user accounts. The final phases are a 1-week user acceptance testing (UAT) and training period, followed by the official go-live and handover to the support team for ongoing service delivery.
The process begins with your radiographer performing a scan (e.g., a CT scan on a Siemens SOMATOM go.Up) which is then sent via a secure, encrypted internet connection (VPN tunnel) from your facility to the provider's central PACS server. A workflow manager assigns the case to the appropriate available sub-specialist radiologist. The radiologist views the images on a medical-grade diagnostic monitor, dictates or types a report, and signs it electronically. The finalized report and key images are then sent back to your facility's secure web portal, and an alert (email or SMS) is sent to your referring physician. The entire methodology is built on the international DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine) and HL7 (Health Level Seven) standards to ensure interoperability and data integrity.
A robust Tele-Radiology Service Level Agreement (SLA) in Nigeria is tiered, with typical response times of under 1 hour for critical/STAT emergency cases, 2-6 hours for urgent inpatient cases, and 12-24 hours for routine outpatient studies. The SLA should guarantee a system uptime of at least 99.5%, excluding planned maintenance. It must clearly define these tiers, the window for support availability (ideally 24/7), and the process for escalating issues. A strong SLA, like the one Franance provides, includes penalty clauses (e.g., service credits) for failing to meet these targets and offers a real-time dashboard for you to monitor performance independently.
Contact Franance to receive our industry-leading, transparent SLA, complete with performance guarantees and a client-facing monitoring dashboard.
Upon completion of the service implementation, you should receive a comprehensive documentation package. This includes a final project sign-off document, detailed user manuals for both radiographers and clinicians, and system administrator guides. You will also receive a certificate of completion for the training provided to your staff. On an ongoing basis, the service should provide monthly performance reports detailing study volumes, turnaround time adherence, and system uptime, which are critical for internal reviews and for reporting to donors or management boards.
Compliance for a Tele-Radiology service involves multiple bodies. The Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA) governs the safe use of the radiation-emitting imaging equipment (e.g., CT, X-ray) at your facility, and your provider should understand these requirements. While NAFDAC is not directly involved in the service, any imported hardware like servers or medical monitors must meet Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) requirements, often requiring SONCAP certification prior to import. Most importantly, the service provider must be fully compliant with the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR), managed by the NDPC, which governs the secure handling and transfer of sensitive patient data. Adherence to international standards like ISO 27001 (Information Security) is a strong indicator of a provider's commitment to data safety.
Preventive maintenance (PM) for a Tele-Radiology system is primarily focused on the IT infrastructure and is typically performed quarterly or semi-annually. This involves checking the health of the on-premise PACS server or gateway, applying necessary software patches and security updates, verifying the integrity of data backups, and cleaning up server logs. The provider's technical team usually performs these tasks remotely during off-peak hours (e.g., Sunday morning) to minimize disruption. A digital log of all PM activities should be maintained and shared with your IT department.
The emergency repair process begins the moment your facility reports a system outage or critical issue via the provider's 24/7 support line. The first step is remote triage by a support engineer, who will attempt to diagnose and resolve the issue within 30-60 minutes. This could involve restarting services, troubleshooting network connectivity, or fixing a configuration error. If remote resolution fails and the issue is with on-premise hardware (like the gateway server), a field engineer will be dispatched from the nearest hub (e.g., Lagos, Abuja) with a target on-site arrival time of 4-8 hours for major cities. The escalation path should be clearly defined, moving from first-line support to a senior engineer and then to management if the issue persists.
For on-premise components of a Tele-Radiology service, such as the gateway server or specific network hardware, spare parts availability is critical. A reliable provider like Franance maintains a local stock of critical spares (e.g., power supplies, hard drives, network cards) in our regional hubs (Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano) to ensure rapid replacement. Lead times for non-stocked parts can range from 3-10 working days if sourced locally, to 4-6 weeks if they must be imported, navigating customs clearance. The service contract should specify whether the cost of these spares is included (as in a CMC) or billed separately. Using authentic, OEM-certified parts is non-negotiable to ensure system stability and warranty compliance.
Training should be role-based and practical, typically lasting 1-2 days. Radiographers are trained on how to correctly enter patient data, select the right protocol, and transmit studies to the platform. Clinicians and referring doctors are trained on how to use the web portal to view images and access reports. "Super User" or administrator training is provided for your IT or operations lead, covering user management and basic troubleshooting. A proper handover includes providing all user manuals, administrator credentials, and support contact information, and is only complete after your team signs a User Acceptance Testing (UAT) form confirming the system works as expected.
A Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) for a Tele-Radiology service tracks all related IT assets, including the PACS server, gateway, and diagnostic workstations. Each asset is tagged, and its details (serial number, installation date, warranty) are logged. The CMMS is used to schedule preventive maintenance, log all support tickets and interventions, and track key performance indicators (KPIs) like system uptime, Mean Time To Repair (MTTR), and Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF). Franance provides you with access to a dashboard view of this data, offering full transparency into the health and performance of your Tele-Radiology infrastructure.
A power audit is a critical first step before installing any on-premise Tele-Radiology hardware like a PACS server. The process involves using a power quality analyzer to monitor the electrical supply to the proposed location for several days, capturing data on voltage fluctuations, frequency instability, and power outages. The outcome is a detailed report that recommends the correct sizing for a UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) and a voltage stabilizer (like the large-kVA servo-motor stabilizers common in Nigeria). A properly sized APC or Mercury UPS ensures the server can shut down gracefully during a power cut from PHCN/NEPA, preventing data corruption, while the stabilizer protects the sensitive electronics from damaging power surges and dips.
Relocating Tele-Radiology infrastructure, such as an on-premise PACS server, is a multi-stage project that can take 3-7 days and cost between NGN 250,000 - NGN 800,000, depending on distance and complexity. The process involves a pre-move audit, systematic data backup and shutdown, professional dismantling and packaging of the server and network gear, secure transport, and then re-installation at the new site. Re-commissioning involves re-establishing the network and VPN connections, testing the link to all imaging modalities, and performing a full data integrity check before the system goes live again.
The de-installation process involves safely shutting down and disconnecting the on-premise server and network hardware. This must be done in compliance with Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) guidelines. The most critical step is data sanitisation: all hard drives containing patient data must be securely wiped using certified software (e.g., DoD 5220.22-M standard) or physically destroyed to comply with NDPR. The provider should issue a certificate of data destruction. Disposal of the electronic waste (e-waste) must be handled by a government-approved e-waste management company to ensure environmental compliance. Costs can range from NGN 150,000 to NGN 500,000 for a standard server setup.
Quality control (QC) is an ongoing process, performed monthly or quarterly, to verify that the entire Tele-Radiology service is meeting clinical and technical standards. This involves a peer review of a random sample of reports to check for diagnostic accuracy and clarity. On the technical side, it includes verifying image quality, checking data transmission speeds, and confirming that report turnaround times are consistently meeting the SLA. Trend analysis is used to spot any recurring issues, such as poor image quality from a specific X-ray machine, which can then be addressed proactively.
Electrical safety testing for on-premise Tele-Radiology hardware (servers, workstations) should be conducted annually. The process involves a qualified biomedical or IT engineer using a specialized electrical safety analyzer to test parameters like earth continuity, insulation resistance, and leakage currents. This ensures the equipment is safe for both staff and patients and helps prevent electrical hazards. Each tested device receives a pass/fail sticker with the test date and next due date, and a detailed report is generated for your facility's compliance records, which is often required for audits and accreditation.
The key performance indicators (KPIs) you should track are Report Turnaround Time (TAT), System Uptime, Critical Findings Notification Time, and Report Quality/Discrepancy Rate. These metrics should be delivered in a consolidated report on a monthly basis. A top-tier provider like Franance gives you access to a live, web-based dashboard where you can monitor these KPIs in real-time, providing complete transparency and enabling you to hold your service provider accountable to the agreed-upon SLA.
Payment terms typically involve an initial setup and integration fee, which may be billed 50% upfront and 50% upon successful go-live. The recurring monthly service fee is usually billed in advance at the beginning of each month. For larger, long-term contracts, especially with government hospitals or NGOs, a performance bond may be required from the provider. Franance offers flexible options, including annual billing cycles with a discount, as well as financing and leasing options that convert the initial capital expenditure into a predictable monthly operational expense, easing cash flow burdens.
Franance offers true nationwide coverage for Tele-Radiology services, with primary engineering and support hubs located in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Kano. This strategic presence allows us to provide rapid on-site support for installation, training, and emergency repairs across all six geopolitical zones. While the radiological reporting is done remotely, our physical presence ensures that the critical on-site components of the service—the hardware, the network integration, and the user training—are handled efficiently and professionally, no matter where your facility is located, from Maiduguri to Calabar.
Share your requirements for rollout, training and SLAs. Our service desk will prepare budgets, documentation and timelines aligned to your facility.
30+ Years
Experience delivering healthcare projects in Nigeria
OEM Certified
Biomedical & IT teams for installation, calibration & support
Nationwide
Coverage across Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano & beyond
Honest answers about scope, pricing, delivery and support so you can plan with confidence.
Per-scan costs range from ₦8,000 to ₦25,000 depending on modality and complexity. A CT brain scan from a GE Optima CT540 will be at the lower end, while a complex MRI study from a Siemens Magnetom Avanto will be higher. Providers often offer volume discounts for facilities in Lagos or Abuja processing over 100 scans monthly, which can reduce the average cost significantly.
The standard turnaround time (TAT) for routine reports is 4-6 hours, while STAT emergency cases are reported in under 60 minutes. A facility in Port Harcourt can expect a report for a routine chest X-ray from their Philips DigitalDiagnost C90 within 4 hours. The SLA guarantees these times, with penalties for non-compliance.
Evaluate providers based on their radiologist panel's MDCN registration, subspecialty coverage, and guaranteed TATs. Request case studies from Nigerian hospitals using similar equipment, like a Siemens Somatom go.Up CT. Prioritise providers with local technical support teams in major cities for faster issue resolution and integration support.
You need a DICOM-compliant imaging modality, such as a Philips Incisive CT, and a stable internet connection with at least 10 Mbps upload speed. The provider typically supplies a pre-configured, secure VPN gateway device or software to ensure encrypted image transfer from your facility's network to their cloud PACS, simplifying the setup for your IT team.
Yes, outsourcing is often more cost-effective, particularly for after-hours, weekend, or subspecialty coverage. It eliminates costs like salary, benefits, and leave coverage, potentially saving 30-50% annually. This model allows a facility to gain 24/7 coverage without the overhead of multiple full-time radiologists, especially for specialised reads from a GE Optima MR450w.
Your radiographer sends DICOM images from your scanner, like a GE Logiq E10 ultrasound, directly to the provider's secure PACS via an encrypted VPN. Their radiologist accesses the images, dictates a report, and uploads the signed report to a secure portal. The entire process is automated after the initial DICOM configuration, requiring no change to your scanning protocol.
A standard SLA guarantees report turnaround times (e.g., <60 mins for STAT), system uptime of 99.9%, and 24/7 technical support. It specifies penalties, such as service credits, if TAT for reports from your Siemens Artis zee is consistently missed. The SLA also outlines the escalation path and communication protocol for critical findings.
Critical findings are communicated immediately via a direct phone call to the referring physician or a designated clinical contact. This is followed by a preliminary report flagged as 'CRITICAL' on the PACS portal. This two-step protocol ensures urgent patient management for findings from a GE Optima CT660 scan is never delayed by email or portal checks.
The process is: 1) Sign the service agreement. 2) A technical call to map workflow (1-2 days). 3) Remote installation of a secure gateway (2-4 hours). 4) Testing image transfer from your Philips Affiniti 70 ultrasound (1 day). 5) Training for your radiographers (2 hours). The entire implementation from contract to go-live typically takes 5-7 business days.
Yes, financing options are available for the required PACS and network hardware. A service like Franance can structure a lease-to-own plan for the Dell PowerEdge servers and network switches needed to connect your GE Revolution CT to a remote reading service. This spreads the capital expenditure over 24-36 months, making it more manageable.
A pay-per-scan model is better for facilities with fluctuating scan volumes, like a new diagnostic centre in Abuja. A monthly retainer is more cost-effective for high-volume hospitals, such as a teaching hospital in Lagos, as it provides predictable costs and often includes priority support for their Siemens Somatom CT scanners, lowering the per-scan rate.
Yes, leading providers offer subspecialty reporting for neuroradiology, MSK, paediatrics, and more. You can route specific cases, like an MRI of the brain from a Philips Ingenia 1.5T, to a fellowship-trained neuroradiologist. This ensures an expert interpretation that may be unavailable in-house, especially outside major commercial hubs.
Patient data is protected using end-to-end AES-256 bit encryption via a secure VPN tunnel. All data, both in transit and at rest on the provider's PACS server, is encrypted to meet international standards like HIPAA and local laws like NDPR. This ensures data from your Siemens Healthineers Acuson Sequoia ultrasound remains confidential and secure.
They must be Fellows of the West African College of Surgeons (FWACS) or the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (NPMCN) in Radiology and be registered with the MDCN. For subspecialty reports, confirm they have additional fellowship training from recognised global institutions. This ensures reports meet the highest clinical and regulatory standards in Nigeria.
For a STAT request at 2 AM, your radiographer selects the 'STAT' priority when sending the study from your GE Optima MR450w. This triggers an immediate SMS and call alert to the on-call radiologist. The case is placed at the top of the worklist, and you receive a phone call with findings and a preliminary report within 60 minutes, as mandated by the SLA.
A standard implementation, from contract signing to going live, takes approximately one week. This includes technical setup, testing the DICOM connection with your modalities like the Siemens Luminos dRF Max, and staff training. For multi-site hospital groups in Nigeria, a phased rollout may take 2-4 weeks to ensure a smooth transition at each location.
Yes, you can. For facilities without a PACS, the provider can configure a direct, secure DICOM send from your modality, like a GE Brivo OEC 865 C-arm, to their cloud-based PACS. You and your referring physicians would then access the images and reports via a secure, user-friendly web portal, eliminating the need for a large on-premise server investment.
Providers offer 24/7/365 technical support via phone, email, and a remote ticketing system. This support covers any issues with image transmission, portal access, or report delivery. If your GE Senographe Pristina mammography unit fails to send a study, their support team can remotely diagnose and resolve the DICOM connectivity issue within minutes.
Reputable providers comply with the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) by using strong data encryption, role-based access controls, and providing a clear data processing agreement. They ensure patient data is hosted securely and that all transfers are logged. Your facility remains the data controller, while the provider acts as the data processor under the agreement.
Tele-radiology provides consistent, 24/7 coverage and access to a large panel of subspecialists, which a single locum cannot offer. It eliminates the logistical challenges and high daily rates of securing a locum radiologist in Nigeria. You get guaranteed TATs and a stable reporting service, unlike the variability and administrative burden of managing locum schedules.
The provider's platform includes protocols for rejecting poor-quality scans. If a CT scan from your Toshiba Aquilion 64 is suboptimal, the remote radiologist will immediately notify your radiographer via a built-in chat or phone call with specific feedback on what needs correction, such as patient positioning or contrast timing, ensuring a diagnostic-quality rescan.
Yes, a key advantage is centralised reporting for a hospital group with facilities in different states. A provider can create a unified worklist for your clinics in Kano, Ibadan, and Enugu, ensuring consistent reporting quality and TATs across all sites. This standardises care and provides operational efficiency, regardless of local radiologist availability.
The provider conducts a remote training session (usually 1-2 hours via Zoom or Google Meet) for your radiographers and administrative staff. The training covers how to send studies, flag cases as STAT, access the web portal for reports, and use communication tools to interact with radiologists. A recording and user guides are also provided for new staff.
Providers have business continuity plans. If your primary internet fails, a pre-configured 4G/5G modem can be used as a backup for image upload. If their system has an issue, they have geo-redundant servers. The SLA will define acceptable downtime (e.g., less than 4 hours per year) and the communication protocol for notifying your facility during an outage.
The Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA) governs radiation safety for the equipment itself, like your Siemens Somatom go.Up CT scanner. Tele-radiology as a practice is not directly regulated by NNRA. However, your facility remains fully responsible for NNRA compliance of the physical scanner, while the provider's radiologists adhere to MDCN standards of care.
The tele-radiology provider is responsible for maintaining and troubleshooting the gateway device or VPN software they install at your facility. Your biomedical engineering team remains responsible for the imaging modality (e.g., a Philips IntelliSite Pathology Solution) and your internal network. The service agreement clearly defines these responsibilities to prevent support gaps.
A Nigerian-based provider is generally better as they understand the local clinical context, common pathologies, and the MDCN regulatory landscape. They offer local-hours support and their radiologists are licensed to practice in Nigeria. An international provider may offer lower costs but can present challenges with time zones, support, and understanding specific Nigerian healthcare needs.
Most providers operate on a monthly billing cycle with net-30 payment terms. At the end of each month, you receive an itemised invoice for all scans reported. For large contracts or hospital groups, some providers offer a pre-paid retainer model for a fixed number of scans, which can reduce the per-scan cost and simplify budgeting.
Integration involves configuring a secure DICOM auto-forwarding rule from your local PACS server (e.g., a Carestream Vue PACS) to the provider's server address. This is a technical process managed by engineers from both sides and typically takes 2-4 hours remotely. It allows for seamless forwarding of selected studies for remote reporting without manual intervention.
Reputable providers have a clear quality assurance and peer-review process. If you disagree with a report, you can request a second opinion from another radiologist on their panel at no extra cost. The platform will have a feature to flag a report for review, which initiates a formal process to ensure the final report is accurate and clinically sound.