AFRICA MOVES TO END MEDICAL TOURISM WITH OPENING OF $300M WORLD-CLASS HEALTH CENTRE IN ABUJA
The Centre currently operates 170 beds, with a plan to expand to 500, making it the largest specialised private hospital in Nigeria and West Africa.
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Tourism.
Africa took a decisive step toward healthcare self-sufficiency on Thursday with the official opening of the African Medical Centre of Excellence (AMCE) in Abuja, a $300 million facility designed to deliver global-standard care and curb the continent’s dependence on medical services abroad.
Developed by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) in partnership with King’s College Hospital, London, the facility was commissioned in a high-profile ceremony attended by Nigeria’s Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, who represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Also in attendance were key figures from Nigeria’s public and private sectors, including ministers, heads of agencies, and executives from the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), Bank of Industry (BOI), and other partner institutions.
Located in Nigeria’s capital, AMCE offers advanced services in oncology, haematology, cardiology, and general medicine. The Centre currently operates 170 beds, with a plan to expand to 500, making it the largest specialised private hospital in Nigeria and West Africa.
Vice President Shettima, speaking on behalf of the president, said the Centre’s commissioning was a symbolic and strategic milestone.
“Today, we are not merely unveiling a building, we are making a bold, collective statement: we will no longer accept medical vulnerability as destiny,” he said “The African Medical Centre of Excellence stands as proof that Africa is ready to compete with the best in global healthcare.”
President Tinubu, in a statement delivered at the event, described the AMCE as part of Nigeria’s broader healthcare transformation agenda, which includes unlocking the healthcare value chain and attracting over $2.2 billion in new investments through the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Initiative.
The launch of AMCE comes at a time when Africa spends an estimated $6 billion to $ 10 billion annually on medical tourism. The facility’s backers say the Centre will drastically reduce that outflow by offering specialised, high-quality care that previously required travel to Europe or Asia.
“We don’t just open a hospital, we launch a healthcare revolution for Africa. AMCE represents a paradigm shift in how specialised medical care is delivered on the continent,” said AMCE Chief Executive Officer, Brian Deaver. “Our integrated model encompasses early diagnosis, advanced treatment, and long-term disease management, creating a seamless continuum of care that improves patient outcomes and health experiences.”
The Centre features advanced infrastructure, including West Africa’s largest stem cell laboratory, 15 post-stem cell isolation rooms, five operating theatres, three catheterisation laboratories, 20 ICU beds, six critical care unit beds, and 20 chemotherapy chairs. Among its cutting-edge equipment are an 18 MeV cyclotron, 3 Tesla MRI, 256-slice and 128-slice CT scanners, brachytherapy machines, and biosafety cabinets.
Prof. Benedict Oramah, President of Afreximbank and Chairman of the AMCE Board, said the inspiration for the facility stemmed from a personal health crisis in 2013 that saw him evacuated to King’s College Hospital in London.
“Being here today is a testament to the power of cutting-edge medical research, clinical knowledge, and a solid healthcare ecosystem,” he said.
Oramah also announced the establishment of the Africa Life Sciences Foundation, which will mobilise risk capital for health research and innovation across the continent. He called on African governments, banks, corporations, and philanthropists to invest in the initiative.
King’s College Hospital London and The Christie NHS Foundation Trust have been instrumental in shaping AMCE’s clinical and operational framework. Their continued partnership will foster knowledge exchange, research, and training, positioning the Centre as a hub for medical excellence in Africa.
Professor Clive Kay, Chief Executive Officer of King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, stated that the collaboration aims to deliver sustainable, high-quality healthcare tailored to the needs of Africans.
“The African Medical Centre of Excellence represents a positive step forward, and by bringing together world-class clinical standards, training, and research, we aim to share our expertise and support the development of a sustainable model of care that responds directly to the needs of African patients,” Kay said.
In its next phase, AMCE plans to add a second 350-bed hospital, medical and nursing schools, research centres, residential quarters, and a medical sciences foundation. These additions are expected to further position Nigeria as a regional leader in healthcare delivery and medical training.
