$300m AMCE To Curb Medical Tourism Drain

African Medical Centre of Excellence (AMCE) is poised to reverse Africa’s estimated $6-10 billion annual medical tourism outflow and position the continent as a global healthcare destination.

Speaking during the commissioning of the $300 million tertiary facility in Abuja, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, said, “Today, we are not merely unveiling a building, we are making a bold, collective statement: we will no longer accept medical vulnerability as destiny. AMCE stands as proof that Africa is ready to compete with the best in global healthcare.”

Tinubu, who was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, said, “With the largest stem cell lab in West Africa and plans for a medical school, this centre is more than a hospital, it is a place to heal the sick, and to train the future.”

Described as more than just a hospital, the AMCE, developed by African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) in partnership with King’s College Hospital London, is envisioned as a comprehensive healthcare ecosystem offering specialised services in oncology, haematology, cardiology and general medicine.

The centre currently houses 170 beds with plans to expand to 500 and boasts of the largest stem cell laboratory in West Africa, cutting-edge imaging technology, five operating theatres, catheterisation labs, and a compounding pharmacy. It is also the only facility in the region to host highly specialised equipment such as an 18MeV cyclotron and 256-slice CT scanners.

For Afreximbank president, Prof. Benedict Oramah, the opening carries deep personal significance. He recounted a 2013 health emergency that required his evacuation to King’s College Hospital in London, the same institution now partnering with Afreximbank on this transformative project.

“This experience led me to conclude that one of the most impactful contributions I could make was to help build Africa’s medical resilience. The AMCE is a bold statement that Africa is taking its destiny into its own hands,” he said.

Prof. Oramah also unveiled plans for the Africa Life Sciences Foundation, which will mobilise investment in African-led health research and innovation. He called on governments, philanthropists, and the private sector to join the cause.

AMCE’s CEO, Brian Deaver, highlighted the centre’s integrated model, which spans early diagnosis, advanced treatment, long-term disease management, research, and education.

“This is a healthcare revolution. By blending international expertise with local talent, we are not only treating diseases, we are building a new future for African healthcare,” Deaver said.

Chief executive officer of King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Prof. Clive Kay, described the partnership as a blueprint for future collaborations between African and international institutions.

“We are proud to support the development of sustainable care models that respond directly to the needs of African patients,” he said.

The centre aligns with Nigeria’s broader Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, through which the government has secured over $2.2 billion in fresh funding and launched reforms in pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, and regulatory frameworks.