African Medical Centre of Excellence reaches two innovative milestones in West Africa

NIGERIA— The African Medical Centre of Excellence (AMCE) in Abuja has set a new benchmark for top-class medical care in West Africa, reaching two major clinical milestones just six months after opening in June.

Developed by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) in partnership with King’s College Hospital London, the world-class tertiary facility has successfully completed its first open-heart surgery—a complex Triple Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG)—and delivered the region’s first Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) for lung cancer.

These landmark achievements highlight AMCE’s growing capability to deliver complex, life-saving procedures within Africa, reducing the long-standing need for patients to travel abroad for advanced medical treatments.

Building upon the hospital’s recent outpatient and inpatient milestones, AMCE’s clinical teams have expanded their expertise across cardiovascular medicine and oncology, demonstrating rapid progress in offering high-acuity care to patients across the region.

In oncology, the centre successfully executed West Africa’s first SBRT procedure for lung cancer, a cutting-edge form of radiosurgery that achieves the precision of surgical treatment without any incision.

The pioneering case involved an 80-year-old patient with a localized lung tumour.

The procedure utilized sophisticated imaging, real-time motion tracking, and personalized radiation planning to deliver highly targeted therapy while minimizing damage to surrounding tissue.

In cardiovascular medicine, AMCE’s cardiac team continues to broaden its interventional and surgical services.

Within its first six months, the team has performed over ten advanced cardiac interventions, including coronary angiographies, permanent pacemaker insertions, and percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI).

The successful completion of the centre’s first open-heart surgery positions AMCE among Africa’s few medical facilities offering a fully integrated cardiac care pathway—from diagnosis and interventional cardiology to complex surgical procedures—all within one institution.

Brian Deaver, Chief Executive Officer of AMCE, described these developments as a defining moment for both the Centre and for healthcare on the continent.

 He emphasized that delivering the first open-heart surgery and West Africa’s first SBRT demonstrates the skill and dedication of AMCE’s multidisciplinary teams.

 According to him, with operational oncology systems, catheterization laboratories, and surgical theatres, AMCE is bridging long-standing gaps in access to advanced care and ensuring patients can receive world-class treatment close to home.

Oluranti Doherty, Managing Director of Export Development at Afreximbank, noted that these achievements reflect the transformative impact of Afreximbank’s investment in modern medical infrastructure.

He explained that by strengthening local capacity, AMCE is reducing Africa’s dependence on outbound medical tourism, estimated at between USD 6 billion and USD 10 billion annually, and helping to retain skilled medical professionals who might otherwise seek work abroad.

AMCE is currently preparing for additional complex cardiovascular procedures, including valve repairs and replacements.

The hospital offers advanced services in cardiovascular medicine, haematology, comprehensive oncology, and general healthcare.

 With a current capacity of 170 beds and plans to expand to 500, the facility features the region’s largest stem cell laboratory, fifteen post-stem-cell isolation rooms, and three state-of-the-art catheterization laboratories.

 Its advanced infrastructure also includes specialized imaging technologies such as an 18 Mev cyclotron, 3 Tesla MRI, 256-slice and 128-slice CT scanners, a brachytherapy machine with an iridium source, and four biosafety cabinets.