Opinion

Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu Reflects on Access, Staffing, and Policy Ahead of AMCE Launch in Nigeria

Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu/LinkedIn

May 29, 2025, 20:33

Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu Reflects on Access, Staffing, and Policy Ahead of AMCE Launch in Nigeria

Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu, UICC President-Elect of 2024-2026 and Founder of the Medicaid Cancer Foundation, shared a post by African Medical Centre of Excellence (AMCE) on LinkedIn:

“This will no doubt make a difference to those who can afford it. Kudos. We look foward to hearing about access plans for less well to do patients, otherwise, it is still those who can afford to go abroad for treatment that will be access care here. Cancer Treatment this, remains a privilege.

The center has also started on a bad PR footing with those of us who have been struggling in the oncology space, and extended our arm of partnerships to their entranc– by poaching staff from centers across Nigeria. We lost 6. Not a big deal. Better internal migration that external. The question here is, what happens next? What are the plans to train HR in country? It should not be about the fat paycheck being offered. The Nigerian Health system needs more.

3 days ago, the Coordinating Minister of health announced the commencement of operations at 3 comprehensive cancer centers in Nigeria. Backed with funding from NSIA: Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority and National Health Insurance Agency. This is more encouraging. I was also pleased to hear the Cancer health fund will be moved away from NICRAT, (our increasingly lacklustre research agency) to the NSIA. That is progress..I hope. Despite budgetary allocations, cancer patients have been unable to access the funds for almost a year due to internal wranglings and bureaucracy….While patients die daily. Not the way foward and certainly not renewed hope.”

Quoting African Medical Centre of Excellence (AMCE)‘s post:

“10 Days to go. The countdown has begun.

In just 10 days, the Africa Medical Centre of Excellence (AMCE) will open its doors in Abuja, Nigeria – marking a bold step forward for specialised healthcare in Africa.

More than a hospital, AMCE is a vision brought to life:
– World-class care in cardiology, haematology, and oncology
– A hub for research, medical innovation, and training
– A decisive force in the fight against non-communicable diseases (NCDs)
– A commitment to accessible, patient-centred care across the continent

This is healthcare made in Africa, for Africa.

Follow us as we prepare to launch on June 5.”