Abuja's AMCE: A Catalyst for African Medical Tourism and Healthcare Retention

The $350 million Afreximbank-backed African Medical Centre of Excellence (AMCE) in Abuja is significantly impacting Nigeria's reliance on overseas healthcare. Since its June launch, AMCE has treated patients who would typically travel abroad, effectively curbing Nigeria's estimated $2 billion annual medical tourism expenditure. This facility helps retain foreign exchange, as a procedure costing around $3,000 in Abuja could be five times more expensive in the United States, the United Kingdom, India, or Dubai, factoring in all associated travel and medical expenses. Anshul Govila, AMCE's Chief Operations Officer, highlighted this cost efficiency, which conserves thousands of dollars for the country and positions Nigeria as an emerging healthcare destination.

Advancing High-Quality Care

AMCE's early success includes attracting foreign and expatriate patients, fulfilling Afreximbank’s ambition to retain high-value healthcare spending within Africa. The center prioritizes affordable costs without compromising quality of care. Govila noted a senior US-based cardiologist's surprise at the pricing, stating, "What he would charge around £15,000 for in the US, we were doing for less than $3,000." This quality is upheld through experienced clinicians, robust clinical governance, and meticulous logistics for specialized imported items.

Brian Deaver, Chief Executive Officer of AMCE, reported successful open-heart surgeries and complex, high-risk care with outcomes exceeding international benchmarks. He shared a recent life-saving intervention: "Just Friday, we performed a very risky procedure on a 60-year-old male who was literally hours away from not just a heart attack, but the question was going to be how bad it was going to be. We were able to save that patient and he returned home on Saturday." Deaver also announced a pioneering achievement: "We’re doing some very complex and life-saving treatments here at the AMCE. And just as significantly, we’ve carried out the first-ever stereotactic radiosurgery procedure ever performed in West Africa, and one could argue East Africa and Central Africa as well. Not as a demonstration, not as a pilot case or a test, but as a fully operational clinical service for real patients who would otherwise have had to travel and leave the continent to receive their care."

Aisha Umar, CMO of AMCE, confirmed the completion of over ten interventional cardiac procedures within weeks, including coronary angiographies and stenting. She added, "This momentum culminated in our first elective open heart surgery and a coronary artery bypass graft, which was performed successfully with a fully operational heart lab supporting the entire process, and we have since carried out more open heart surgeries." Umar concluded these advancements signify a major step for advanced cardiac services in Nigeria, poised to reduce patient travel across Africa. A stem cell transplantation program is planned for early 2026.

Bottom Line

AMCE's rapid progress establishes it as a transformative force in African medical tourism and cross-border healthcare. Key takeaways:
1. Cost-Effective Excellence: Delivers advanced treatments at significantly lower costs, maintaining high quality of care.
2. Economic Impact: Conserves Nigeria's foreign exchange by reducing its $2 billion annual medical tourism expenditure.
3. Pioneering Procedures: Introduces complex, life-saving procedures previously unavailable in much of West, East, and Central Africa.
4. Emerging Healthcare Hub: Solidifies Abuja's reputation as a premier healthcare destination, attracting domestic and international patients.

Read the full article here: https://businessday.ng/news/article/afreximbank-backed-abuja-medical-centre-curbs-medical-tourism-saves-foreign-exchange/