Kuhes at 5: Building the country’s health powerhouse

Five years ago, government delinked the University of Malawi (Unima) to establish four autonomous institutions of higher learning. This led to the birth of Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (Kuhes), a merger of the then College of Medicine (CoM) and Kamuzu College of Nursing (KCN). As LUCKY MKANDAWIRE, News Analyst writes, the university today stands as a symbol of research excellence, innovation and national service in the country and beyond.

Established on May 4 2021, Kuhes inherited proud legacies while embracing a future defined by discovery and impact. So in just five years, Kuhes has become a respected higher learning institution nationally and internationally. Vice-chancellor Macpherson Mallewa believes his institution’s achievements reflect determination and vision cultivated since its establishment.

He describes the progress as evidence that Malawi can build world-class institutions capable of producing globally recognised scholarship while addressing pressing national healthcare priorities. “As Malawi’s premier academic and health research institution, Kuhes embodies a critical role in advancing health research, translating evidence into policy and practice in both Malawi and the Sub-Saharan Africa,” he said. Mallewa explains that the university has consistently contributed to improving health systems, population health outcomes and positioning Malawi within the global scientific fraternity.

[paywall]

“Suffice to note that since inception, Kuhes has made splendid steps towards achieving research excellence, contributing to national and global health priorities,” he adds. Early this year, Kuhes was ranked ranked number six among African academic institutions in health sciences research output. The 2025 ranking by Nature Index provides absolute count of primary research articles and fractional share counts of author contribution to articles.

According to its website, Nature Index tracks primary research articles from 145 natural-science and health-science journals, chosen based on reputation by an independent group of researchers. Mallewa describes the development as a testament to the university’s commitment to being a world class university. Further in February this year, Kuhes was officially accredited as a platinum-tier institution in grants management and research governance under the ARS1651-2018 Good Financial Grant Practice by KPMG-Kenya. This makes Kuhes the first Malawian higher education institution to attain platinum certification.

[/paywall]