NIGERIA – African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has formally broken ground for the construction of the African Medical Centre of Excellence (AMCE) in Abuja, Nigeria.
The Centre aims to provide world class healthcare across the continent in long-term partnership with King’s College Hospital, London (KCH), the official clinical partner for the AMCE. Commissioning of the Centre is expected to take place in the first quarter of 2024.
The AMCE will offer a full spectrum of medical services (diagnostics, in-patient and out-patient) in oncology, hematology, cardiology and general healthcare services (including trauma and emergency services), as well as other essential services including academic, residential, hospitality and retail.
A significant focus of the AMCE is to perform innovative and groundbreaking research, development and educational programs in partnership with leading global institutions such as the University of Wisconsin, King’s College Hospital and the Christie Hospital in Manchester in order to develop additional insights into diseases and treatment trends to improve the quality of care in Nigeria and the West African region.
In addition, it has the potential to establish the largest and most diverse biobank in West Africa, enabling it to attract global and Pan-African partnerships, making it a global point of reference and source of medical tourism in the region.
The AMCE will offer residency, training and observership placement programmes that will afford the opportunity for physicians and students at local teaching to train under the expertise of its specialists and with the benefit of its patient volumes.
His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, commented: “The rising non communicable disease (NCD) burden in Africa is well established and undeniable. Coupled with inadequate medical infrastructure on the continent, it makes for a lethal combination that threatens the future of our people.
This problem is further exacerbated by the significant brain drain experienced by the continent, with our best brightest in the medical profession being attracted to career opportunities abroad resulting in a significant gap between the required treatments for NCDs and the available treatments.
The initiative is supported by the Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) to meet the African Union’s (AU) healthcare goals and objectives under the “Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want”.
The partnership with King’s College Hospital will increase locally available clinical capabilities, provide education and training, relying on KCH’s two centuries of experience in providing specialist healthcare services, medicine, and medical research.
As a training, educational, medical and research facility, medical and research professionals from across the continent will be able to meet, exchange ideas and support Africa to implement its health agenda and provide quality healthcare, which would be accessible and affordable to all Africans.
Partnering with King’s College Hospital, the Christie Hospital Manchester, the Federal Government of Nigeria and the African Union’s Africa CDC, the Centre of Excellence is expected to reduce the outflow of patients from the continent and ensures that capacity is built locally to provide medical specialties on the continent.
Sir Hugh Taylor, Chairman of King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said: “At King’s we have a long history of providing specialist healthcare locally, nationally and internationally. We are proud to be extending our clinical expertise in services such as hematology and cardiology to benefit the people of Nigeria, and Africa more generally.”
Prof. Anil Dhawan, Executive Medical Director of King’s Commercial Services said: “We are delighted to expand our overseas footprint of healthcare facilities in Nigeria, our first project in Africa, to provide the best care to the people of the continent.”
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