- Declares centre can end Africa’s medical tourism, restore confidence in healthcare
- Brian Deaver: hospital has made progress, accomplished set targets
James Emejo in Abuja
President of African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), Dr. George Elombi, has applauded the remarkable milestones recorded by African Medical Centre of Excellence (AMCE), Abuja, within one year of operation, describing the facility as proof that Africa can build and sustain world-class healthcare while reducing dependence on medical treatment abroad.
Elombi spoke during a working visit to the specialist medical facility at the weekend.
He pledged additional investment by Afreximbank to expand the centre and disclosed plans to replicate the model across other African regions, including Tanzania and Cameroon.
AMCE, developed by Afreximbank in partnership with King’s College Hospital, London, was established to strengthen specialist healthcare delivery, medical research, and training while advancing Africa’s healthcare sovereignty.
Speaking after touring the hospital’s key clinical departments, Elombi said the institution had surpassed expectations. He added that the investment was never conceived as a commercial venture but a continental response to Africa’s healthcare challenges.
He told THISDAY, “What else would you expect after making such a massive investment? We assembled professionals of the highest standard who came here because they believe they can make a difference across Africa. This is much bigger than a hospital. It is a movement.”
He said Afreximbank remained committed to financing the hospital’s continued expansion, pointing to ongoing construction of additional clinical facilities and accommodation.
He said, “There is still a need for further investment and we will continue making those investments until this hospital reaches the level we believe it must attain.”
The Afreximbank boss said the facility had demonstrated that Africans no longer needed to travel overseas for most complex medical conditions.
He stated that some of the sophisticated medical equipment installed at the centre exceeded what was available in some renowned foreign hospitals.
He said patients, who previously sought treatment abroad, were increasingly discovering that equivalent or even better care was now available within Africa.
Elombi stated that the centre would also help stem the migration of medical professionals by providing a world-class environment capable of attracting highly skilled African specialists back to the continent.
He said the success recorded in Abuja had strengthened Afreximbank’s resolve to establish similar centres elsewhere in Africa.
Elombi stated, “We intend to replicate this model across other countries in the sub-region. That is why we are planning additional investments in Tanzania, Cameroon and other parts of Africa.
“We would not be making those investments if we were not satisfied with what has been achieved here.”
Within its first year, AMCE treated over 5,000 patients from more than 20 countries across four continents.
The hospital also recorded several landmark medical achievements, including West Africa’s first Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) for lung cancer, two stem cell transplants, 10 open-heart surgeries, 11 cardiac surgical procedures, 99 catheterisation laboratory procedures and more than 40,000 diagnostic tests.
It also commenced nuclear medicine services, with PET/CT imaging scheduled to begin later this year.
Chief Executive Officer of AMCE, Brian Deaver, said the hospital’s rapid progress demonstrated that Africa could build globally competitive centres of medical excellence.
He said the institution had remained focused on advancing patient care, research, education, and innovation with Afreximbank’s continued support.
On the adoption of artificial intelligence, Deaver said the hospital had already integrated AI into several clinical services to improve diagnostic accuracy and treatment precision.
He explained that AI currently assisted radiologists in detecting abnormalities in diagnostic images and supported radiation therapy by tracking patients’ breathing and automatically controlling radiation delivery for greater precision.
According to him, the next phase will extend AI applications to laboratory and pathology services to improve detection of abnormalities in blood samples and other diagnostic investigations.
Deaver also disclosed that the Africa Life Sciences Foundation, established to support the hospital’s mission, now had at least $75 million in funding.
He said the fund was being deployed to subsidise treatment for indigent patients, finance medical research, and provide additional capital for specialised equipment beyond the hospital’s original development plan.
He added that ongoing expansion works, including a patient hotel, staff accommodation, and a medical office complex for clinical trials and research, would further strengthen the centre’s capacity as a continental hub for advanced healthcare, medical innovation and specialist training.
Deaver said, “We are very pleased with the progress we have made. Everything we set out to accomplish has either been achieved or is now in place. The final component of our cancer programme—the ability to perform cancer staging using positron emission tomography (PET)—was completed this month.
“We have also performed two stem cell transplants over the past month, both for patients suffering from multiple myeloma, an incurable form of blood cancer.
While this treatment does not cure the disease, it can extend patients’ lives by five to ten years and can be repeated when necessary.
“From open-heart surgery and stereotactic radiosurgery to stem cell transplantation and advanced haematology services, everything is progressing according to plan.”
He stated, “Although our initial focus was on three core specialty areas, patient demand has required us to expand into additional services. For example, yesterday we performed spinal surgery on a patient who could not walk.
“Today she is already moving her legs and walking.
We are fortunate to have received the support of institutions such as Afreximbank, the Bank of Industry and the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority in establishing this world-class institution with advanced technology.
“The research programme will continue to grow.
“As you can see behind us, heavy construction is ongoing. That work includes a patient hotel, staff accommodation and a medical office building that will support clinical trials and research.”
On the deployment of AI at the centre, Deaver said, “We want to ensure that we use artificial intelligence appropriately.
“Artificial intelligence is essentially human intelligence that has been programmed, and we are already using it in several areas.
“For example, in our imaging departments, AI assists our radiologists by identifying abnormalities and anomalies in diagnostic images.
“In radiation therapy for cancer patients, AI monitors patients during treatment, tracks their breathing and automatically switches the radiation beam on and off according to their respiratory movement, ensuring greater precision.
“The next phase will involve introducing AI into our laboratory and pathology services to assist in detecting abnormalities in blood samples and other diagnostic testing.”
Deaver added, “Our progress, from pioneering clinical achievements to earning growing trust across the region, demonstrates that Africa can build and sustain world-class centres of excellence.
“With Afreximbank’s continued vision and support, we remain committed to advancing patient care, research, education and innovation to strengthen health systems across the continent.”