..Edun, experts, says will boost economy
The Africa Medical Centre of Excellence (AMCE) will boost intra-African trade particularly in medical services and stimulate local manufacturing, according to Oluranti Doherty, managing director of export development at the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank).
Doherty, speaking at the commissioning ceremony of the AMCE in Abuja, explained that the centre wll facilitate the movement of patients and services within the continent. She said many Africans currently travel abroad for specialised medical treatment due to a lack of facilities and equipment in their home countries which the cebtre is addressing.
“For instance, patients in Ghana often have to fly to India to access quality healthcare and medical equipment not available locally, spending valuable foreign currency. With the Africa Medical Centre here in Abuja, they can now receive such care within Africa itself, fostering a new intra-continental trade in medical services,” she said.
“The centre is expected to stimulate a trade in services between West African nations, creating a sustainable health ecosystem within the continent. Beyond healthcare, the AMCE is anticipated to drive growth in local manufacturing.”
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Doherty noted that the centre relies on a network of suppliers for consumables, medical devices, and protective equipment, much of which is already produced in Nigeria.
Doherty expressed confidence that the AMCE will strengthen manufacturing linkages within Nigeria and across Africa, boosting local industries and reducing reliance on imports.
“The centre is not only a beacon of hope for healthcare but also a catalyst for economic growth, exemplifying how Africa can trade in both goods and services to meet its own needs,” she further said.
The AMCE, the first of its kind in Africa, launched with a 170-bed specialist hospital and is expected to scale to 500 beds in subsequent phases.
Wale Edun, minister of Finance and coordinating minister of the economy noted that the centre will reverse medical tourism and is boost for foreign exchange gains.
Commenting on the facility Samuel Nzekwe, an economic expert said,
“This is a plus for the economy. We have been financing other people’s economy due to lack of infrastructure, with this, nobody will travel abroad. We will save the money for medical tourism and spur production of medical consumables that are imported.”
He added that the AMCE could also strengthen the naira. “It will cure medical tourism. Nigerians will no longer source for dollar or other currencies to travel out, but will use the naira and pay for services here in the country. The centre will also attract patients from other countries. It will add to saving the value of naira.”
Esther Adegunle, author of Economics Talks and Associate Director, DAI Nigeria, opined that the AMCE has the potential to stimulate value chains in allied sectors, particularly pharmaceuticals, biomedical research, diagnostics, medical training, and health tech.
“Its integration with local suppliers and service providers could lead to job creation, skills development, and technology transfer, key elements for long-term economic transformation”, she said.
Also commemting, Osundare Tope, President of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), described it as a “laudable feat”, explaining that it will enable doctors access to better training because “the tech that most people are going abroad for is now here,” Tope said.
“The advanced health infrastructure is now domiciled with us here. We will have other people who will come. It will help with better health outcomes”, he added.
Aminu Mohammad, President of the Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria, said the facility will provide services not available in Nigeria and will lead to the production of consumables hitherto imported
Mohammad, however, cautioned that while AMCE raises the bar, public hospitals risk being left behind. “We are appealing that Nigeria should look at welfare of hospitals. This hospital has drawn the most experienced because of remuneration. No headway yet. Internal japa, this negates the complementary services government is providing for you and I”, he added.
