By Ayomide Otitoju
Only six months after its June 2025 opening, the African Medical Centre of Excellence (AMCE) in Abuja is setting new standards in medical care in West Africa, achieving two major clinical firsts: its first open-heart surgery — a complex Triple Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG) — and the region’s first Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) for lung cancer.
Developed by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) in partnership with King’s College Hospital London, AMCE has rapidly expanded its capacity to provide complex, life-saving treatments, reducing the need for patients to travel abroad for specialised care.
On the oncology front, AMCE successfully performed West Africa’s first SBRT for lung cancer, a non-invasive radiosurgical technique that delivers precise, surgery-level treatment. The pioneering case involved an octogenarian with a localised lung tumour, treated using advanced imaging, real-time motion tracking, and personalised radiation planning.
In cardiovascular care, the hospital’s cardiac team has conducted over ten successful interventions within six months, including coronary angiographies, pacemaker insertions, and percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). The completion of its first CABG now positions AMCE as one of the few African centres offering a full cardiac care continuum — from advanced diagnostics to complex open-heart surgery — under one roof.
Brian Deaver, CEO of AMCE, described the milestones as “a defining moment for healthcare on the continent,” noting that the achievements reflect the dedication of multidisciplinary teams and the centre’s commitment to providing world-class, patient-centred care close to home.
Oluranti Doherty, Managing Director of Export Development, Afreximbank, said the accomplishments demonstrate the transformative impact of investing in local medical infrastructure, reducing Africa’s dependence on outbound medical tourism, retaining clinical expertise, and strengthening the continent’s health ecosystem.
AMCE is also preparing for further complex procedures, including valve repairs and replacements, reinforcing its strategy to curb Africa’s estimated US$6–10 billion annual expenditure on medical tourism and mitigate brain drain by creating high-quality career opportunities locally.
The 170-bed facility — planned to expand to 500 beds — offers comprehensive services including cardiovascular care, oncology, haematology, and general medicine. It features the region’s largest stem cell laboratory, fifteen post-stem cell isolation rooms, three catheterisation laboratories, and advanced imaging equipment such as an 18 Mev cyclotron, 3 Tesla MRI, 256-slice and 128-slice CT scanners, and a brachytherapy machine with iridium source.
AMCE’s achievements mark a significant step in establishing West Africa as a hub for advanced, life-saving medical care, offering patients access to treatments that were previously only available abroad.
