AFC commits $40m to build Africa’s first medical centre of excellence in Abuja

The Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) has committed up to $40 million to support the construction of the first African Medical Centre of Excellence (AMCE) in Abuja.

The 500-bed facility is being developed by the Africa Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), in partnership with King’s College Hospital, London, KCH, following an agreement reached at the inaugural AMCE African Health Forum in Abuja weekend.

The project is set to strategically leverage KCH’s unmatched diagnostic, clinical, and capacity-building expertise, focusing on three core non-communicable diseases, namely oncology, cardiology, and haematology.

With a commitment to world-class research, education, and development, AMCE aims to establish itself as a leader in clinical services.

The AMCE initiative signals a healthcare revolution in West Africa, aiming to redirect the course of medical tourism away from the continent.

It envisions the creation of a series of world-class medical centres of excellence in Africa, providing widespread access to critical healthcare in the region.

AMCE Abuja, a first-of-its-kind medical treatment and research center, will unfold in four phases over six years.

AFC, as a new shareholder, will play a pivotal role in the initial phase, involving the construction of a 170-bed specialist hospital, set to expand to 500 beds by the third phase.

With construction progress already over halfway complete, the facility is on track to commence operations in the first quarter of 2025.

AFC President and CEO, Samaila Zubairu, expressed the organisation’s commitment to transforming healthcare in Africa and contributing to a reversal in medical tourism.

He emphasised the importance of building a world-class facility that captured medical spending in Africa, promotes specialist skills development, and attracts healthcare practitioners to local communities.

President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank, Benedict Oramah lauded AFC’s partnership, emphasising its significance in addressing Africa’s healthcare infrastructure challenges.

He called for more partners to join this crucial endeavour to revolutionise healthcare in Africa and make a lasting impact on community well-being.