https://en.sputniknews.africa/20260729/africa-advances-health-sovereignty-through-medical-innovation-and-clinical-excellence-1087913887.html
Africa Advances Health Sovereignty Through Medical Innovation and Clinical Excellence
Africa Advances Health Sovereignty Through Medical Innovation and Clinical Excellence
Sputnik Africa
In a major boost for specialist healthcare in Africa, the African Medical Centre of Excellence (AMCE) has completed its first open-heart surgery and delivered... 29.07.2026, Sputnik Africa
2026-07-29T18:21+0200
2026-07-29T18:21+0200
2026-07-29T18:21+0200
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Africa Advances Health Sovereignty Through Medical Innovation and Clinical Excellence
Sputnik Africa
In a major boost for specialist healthcare in Africa, the African Medical Centre of Excellence (AMCE) has completed its first open-heart surgery and delivered West Africa's first stereotactic body radiation therapy treatment for lung cancer, just months after opening its facility in Nigeria's capital.
The procedures underscore growing efforts to build Africa's capacity for highly specialized medical care and reduce reliance on treatment abroad. Backed by Afreximbank, the $300 million African Medical Centre of Excellence has performed more than 10 cardiac procedures since opening its 170-bed Abuja facility and plans to expand to 500 beds. The hospital also operates West Africa's largest stem cell laboratory, three catheterization laboratories, and advanced diagnostic and treatment equipment, including an 18-megaelectronvolt cyclotron, a 3-tesla magnetic resonance imaging scanner, and a 256-slice computed tomography scanner. The expansion comes as Africa loses an estimated $7 billion annually to outbound medical tourism, according to industry estimates, underscoring the need to strengthen local expertise in cardiac care, oncology, and other specialized fields.In an interview with African Currents, Dr. Aisha Umar, Chief Medical Officer at the African Medical Centre of Excellence in Abuja, discusses the hospital's approach to expanding specialist healthcare services, advancing complex cardiac and cancer treatment, and developing medical expertise within the region.Listen to the full interview on the African Currents podcast, presented by Sputnik Africa.► Stream the podcast on Telegram, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Deezer, Pocket Casts, Afripods, Podcast Addict.► Subscribe to and explore all the episodes of African Currents.
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Africa Advances Health Sovereignty Through Medical Innovation and Clinical Excellence
In a major boost for specialist healthcare in Africa, the African Medical Centre of Excellence (AMCE) has completed its first open-heart surgery and delivered West Africa's first stereotactic body radiation therapy treatment for lung cancer, just months after opening its facility in Nigeria's capital.
The procedures underscore growing efforts to build Africa's capacity for highly specialized medical care and reduce reliance on treatment abroad. Backed by Afreximbank, the $300 million African Medical Centre of Excellence has performed more than 10 cardiac procedures since opening its 170-bed Abuja facility and plans to expand to 500 beds. The hospital also operates West Africa's largest stem cell laboratory, three catheterization laboratories, and advanced diagnostic and treatment equipment, including an 18-megaelectronvolt cyclotron, a 3-tesla magnetic resonance imaging scanner, and a 256-slice computed tomography scanner. The expansion comes as Africa loses an estimated $7 billion annually to outbound medical tourism, according to industry estimates, underscoring the need to strengthen local expertise in cardiac care, oncology, and other specialized fields.
In an interview with African Currents, Dr. Aisha Umar, Chief Medical Officer at the African Medical Centre of Excellence in Abuja, discusses the hospital's approach to expanding specialist healthcare services, advancing complex cardiac and cancer treatment, and developing medical expertise within the region.
"African healthcare institutions can achieve world-class standards when they're supported by the right vision, the right investment, strong governance, and the right partnership, as well as a relentless commitment to excellence. For policymakers, these achievements highlight the importance of creating an enabling environment that supports innovation, workforce development, supporting the healthcare workers so they do not leave, infrastructure expansion, and quality improvement. However, for those who have the money to invest, they demonstrate that healthcare is not simply a social imperative but also a strategic sector capable of delivering meaningful and sustainable impact because everything is about the population. If you have a healthy population, they would be productive, and they would be able to achieve the dream and vision of the countries. And for healthcare institutions across the continent, the message is one of possibility," Dr. Umar shared.
Listen to the full interview on the African Currents podcast, presented by Sputnik Africa.
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Subscribe to and explore all the episodes of African Currents.
