How to Integrate WhatsApp Chats into a Web App for Patient Management

I'm creating a clinic management system using React with self-hosted Supabase compliant with GDPR (in Italy). Our patients prefer communicating exclusively via WhatsApp (using the clinic's number), but we need a way for our operators to view and manage those chats within each patient's dashboard.

The challenge is that the WhatsApp Business API involves extensive development, including dealing with message templates, navigating the 24-hour messaging window, and managing media files. While Meta does offer message templates for reaching out beyond the 24-hour window, it still requires setting up and managing templates and approvals, which adds to the complexity. Plus, unofficial APIs pose risks like account bans.

I would like to steer clear of integrating extensive messaging logic directly into the app, focusing instead on handling patient data. Additionally, the 24-hour messaging restriction is problematic because there could be instances where an operator needs to send information to a patient ahead of an appointment, even if the patient hasn't messaged recently.

My goal is for a patient to send a message via WhatsApp and have those messages logged in their patient record within the app. Operators should then be able to reply and assist the patient directly from their chat in the patient's profile. Ideally, embedding WhatsApp Web would be the solution, but we know this isn't feasible due to CORS restrictions.

Is there a way to handle this integration without having to start from scratch while still allowing patients to communicate only through WhatsApp? I'm open to suggestions for SaaS tools, self-hosted solutions, or architectural ideas.