The Federal Government has inaugurated the African Medical Centre of Excellence (AMCE) in Abuja, a $350 million facility established by Afreximbank in partnership with King’s College Hospital, London, and other collaborators. The centre is designed to reduce the outflow of medical tourism, improve access to specialized care, and strengthen the healthcare workforce across the continent.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, representing President Bola Tinubu at the commissioning, described the AMCE as a critical step toward achieving self-reliance in advanced medical services. He emphasized that the facility, which features West Africa’s largest stem cell laboratory, represents a significant investment in human capital and healthcare infrastructure.
The AMCE’s first phase includes 170 inpatient beds and cutting-edge diagnostic technology, such as the only 3 Tesla MRI currently operational in West Africa and a 256-slice CT scanner. A second phase will expand the centre’s capacity to 500 beds, alongside the development of a medical and nursing school in collaboration with international academic institutions.
President Tinubu noted the centre aligns with his administration’s broader health reform strategy, which includes a $2.2 billion initiative to overhaul primary health centres, scale up health worker training, and expand insurance coverage.
CEO of AMCE, Brian Deavers, stated the centre aims to deliver world-class, patient-focused care without the need for West Africans to seek treatment abroad. Afreximbank President, Prof. Benedict Oramah, added that AMCE will host the most extensive biobank in the region, enabling cutting-edge research and partnerships across Africa.
The new centre is seen as a transformative addition to Nigeria’s healthcare landscape and a model for future medical innovation on the continent.
