Discovery Health Medical Scheme members who have opted into an AI-driven health guidance programme are significantly more likely to complete routine health checks and cancer screenings than members who have not enrolled. This is according to preliminary findings from Discovery Health. These results may be influenced by the effective use of DHMS AI Prompts within the programme.
The results support Discovery Health Medical Scheme’s growing investment in data-driven technology designed to improve preventative healthcare and encourage earlier diagnosis. In addition, these advances help manage long-term healthcare costs.
DHMS is South Africa’s largest open medical scheme, covering about 2.7 million beneficiaries. Of its 2.1 million adult members, more than 650,000 have signed up for the “personal health pathways” programme. This has happened since its launch in January 2025.
The programme uses personalised prompts to encourage members to take what Discovery Health describes as the “next best thing” for managing their individual health risks. These prompts may include reminders to complete screenings, attend check-ups, or follow clinical guidance for chronic conditions.
Members more likely to screen for health risks
Discovery Health’s analysis shows that members enrolled in the programme are three times more likely to go for general health checks. They are also twice as likely to undergo cancer screenings compared with members who have not joined.
The health checks include screening for conditions such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Discovery Health said that almost a quarter of the checks completed through the programme returned out-of-range results. This highlights the potential value of earlier intervention.
Discovery Health CEO Ron Whelan said the company had long recognised the importance of prevention. However, technology had changed how accurately and personally this could be delivered.
He said advances in data and technology enable Discovery to guide each member towards the right actions at the right time.
Chronic disease patients show improved adherence
By the end of May, 67% of DHMS members enrolled in personal health pathways were living with at least one chronic condition. Discovery Health said 66% of the actions completed on the programme were carried out by members with chronic conditions.
A significant share of participants had previously shown poor health-seeking behaviour. About 38% of enrolled members had not regularly attended dental check-ups or received an annual flu vaccination before joining the programme.
Discovery Health said many participants living with chronic illnesses improved their adherence to clinical protocols after joining. These protocols include routine GP consultations, blood tests and other recommended monitoring measures.
Earlier detection linked to better outcomes
The findings mirror results reported earlier this year by Discovery Life, a subsidiary of JSE-listed Discovery. In March, the insurer said individually tailored recommendations had helped clients access earlier diagnosis and care.
Discovery Life said its clients were prompted to undergo 18,000 health screenings in 2025, including more than 9,500 cancer screenings.
Discovery Health said mortality among DHMS members has declined by 5.6% over the past decade, supported by behaviour change, earlier disease detection and improved treatment for life-threatening illnesses such as cancer.
Cancer survival rates among members have also improved sharply. According to Discovery Health, people diagnosed with cancer are now living 7.1 years longer after diagnosis than they were a decade ago. This represents a 48% improvement in survival.
Rising chronic and mental health burden
While advances such as biologics and immunotherapy are helping members live longer, Discovery Health said more people are also living with multiple chronic conditions. These include cardiovascular disease, cancer and mental health disorders.
Mental health prevalence among young people has increased by 80%, partly due to greater awareness and diagnosis, the company said.
Discovery Health’s early findings suggest AI-powered prompts may play an increasingly important role in encouraging preventative care. Moreover, they improve treatment adherence and help identify health risks before they become more serious.
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