The private hospital in Abuja, Nigeria, says it has completed its first open-heart surgery and delivered a major lung cancer treatment.
The African Medical Centre of Excellence (AMCE) in Abuja, Nigeria, says it has completed its first open-heart surgery and delivered West Africa's first stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for lung cancer, marking a significant milestone for advanced medical care on the continent.
Hospital officials of AMCE, a private hospital developed by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) in partnership with King's College Hospital London, said the achievements came about six months after the hospital began operations in June 2025. They added that the developments signal growing capacity for complex, life-saving procedures in Africa and could reduce the need for patients to seek treatment abroad.
At a briefing in Abuja, AMCE chief executive officer Brian Deaver said the open-heart surgery involved a complex triple coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) procedure. At the same time, the SBRT treatment represented a breakthrough in cancer care for the sub-region.
"These achievements underscore the centre's growing capacity to provide complex, life-saving treatments in Africa and significantly reduce the need for Nigerians and other Africans to seek medical care abroad," Deaver said.
The CABG procedure is used to treat severe coronary artery disease by restoring blood flow to the heart. AMCE officials said the successful operation places the centre among a limited number of facilities on the continent capable of providing fully integrated cardiac care, ranging from advanced diagnostics and interventional cardiology to complex open-heart surgery within a single institution.
"These milestones reflect the exceptional skill and dedication of our multidisciplinary teams who have worked tirelessly to ensure that patients can access the most advanced cancer and cardiac care right here in Africa," he said.
The SBRT treatment, officials said, is an advanced form of radiation therapy that delivers highly precise, high-dose radiation to tumours while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue. Unlike conventional surgery, the technique does not require incisions and is typically completed in fewer treatment sessions.
According to AMCE, the SBRT case involved a patient in their 80s with a localised lung tumour. The treatment used advanced imaging, real-time motion tracking, and personalised radiation planning to deliver what clinicians describe as surgical-level precision.
Hospital officials said the successful delivery of SBRT for lung cancer is the first of its kind in West Africa and represents a significant expansion of oncology services in the region.
"With our oncology systems, catheterisation laboratories and operating theatres now fully operational, AMCE is closing long-standing gaps in access to high-quality treatment," Deaver said.
An alternative to 'health tourism'The African Medical Centre of Excellence is part of a broader effort by Afreximbank and its partners to strengthen health infrastructure in Africa. Supporters of the project say it addresses long-standing challenges, including inaccessibility of specialised care, high costs of overseas treatment, and the loss of skilled medical professionals to other regions.
Deaver said expanding cardiovascular and specialised services is central to the hospital's mission to curb medical tourism, which he said costs Africa an estimated $6bn to $10bn annually. He added that the centre also aims to help reverse the brain drain of medical professionals by creating high-quality career opportunities within Africa.
By providing advanced care locally, he said, AMCE hopes to retain both patients and skilled clinicians who might otherwise seek opportunities abroad.