A healthier life and a fuller wallet: Antoinette's journey with Personal Health Pathways

"Both my health and my pocket have benefitted from Personal Health Pathways," says Antoinette Mazibuko, a 43-year-old mother of three.

"When I first saw Personal Health Pathways on the Discovery Health app in January 2025, I was immediately struck by how user-friendly the tool was. And I was so impressed that acting on the recommended actions designed just for me would result in rewards and money into my Personal Health Fund - just for doing what I should already be doing to keep healthy."

Personalised recommended actions aligned with Antoinette's health goals

One of Antoinette's first recommended actions - personalised health prompts tailored to her age, risk profile and health history - was to visit a dietitian.

"My weight had been bothering me for the past few years, so I was pleasantly surprised when I received a recommended action to see a dietitian. After the consultation, I joined Vitality HealthyWeight - which I could access through my Vitality membership."

At the same time, Antoinette and her husband committed to making lasting lifestyle changes to prioritise their health and wellbeing.

"We introduced a healthier, more balanced diet for the whole family and started exercising more. We joined Run/Walk for Life and now walk or jog 5km at least three times a week. It's become a lifestyle for us - and at the same time we're achieving our weekly Personal Health Pathways physical activity goals and closing our weekly rings here, which is a great feeling!"

"All of this has been a game-changer. Since February, I've lost more than 12kgs. I feel fitter and stronger, and I sleep better. My colleagues say I look like a completely different person - and I feel like one too. A much healthier one! And our whole family is benefitting from our healthier lifestyle."

Staying on track with important check-ups

Antoinette has completed several of her health recommended actions. "I went for a pap smear and a dental check-up - things that I'd planned to do anyway. But it's amazing to get these reminders - in the form of recommended actions - through Personal Health Pathways, especially when life gets busy and we tend to postpone these sorts of things. My pathway keeps me on track and empowered to know what I need to do, for my unique health and wellbeing."

"When I receive recommended actions for events like a dentist visit, I also check which family members might need the same care and I book appointments for them too. So my recommended actions have a positive ripple effect on my whole family."

"What I love about Personal Health Pathways is that it's personalised, easy to use, and it really makes me feel like Discovery Health Medical Scheme is looking out for my long-term health."

Earning rewards for healthy choices

Aside from the very tangible health benefits she's experienced, what else keeps Antoinette motivated to follow her recommended actions? "The rewards!" she says. "I've earned over R1,300 in my Personal Health Fund. We've used more than half of the funds to pay for doctor's appointments and over-the-counter medicine."

"Usually we run out of funds in our Medical Savings Account (MSA) by mid-year because the whole family tends to get sick in winter. But thanks to our access to the Personal Health Fund, our MSA will go much further this year. Its almost like I am getting 'paid' to do what I need to do anyway to stay healthy."

"Personal Health Pathways has changed my life for the better"

Based on her positive experiences with Personal Health Pathways, Antoinette recommends the tool to others. "I always tell friends and family who are Discovery Health Medical Scheme members to download the Discovery Health app and activate their Personal Health Pathway. If they have any questions, I help them. I want everyone to benefit like I have."

"We really need to take care of our health. The best way to stay healthy and preserve our quality of life is to catch any health issues as early on as possible. Once we're aware, we can act to reverse or manage those issues. If you wait for symptoms to show up to show you that something's wrong, you really put yourself in a much more difficult position, as, by then, health conditions could be advanced, harder to treat and so on."

"It's also really important to understand your personal health risk factors. I'm especially aware of this because a close relative of mine has had both breast and throat cancer. That puts me at higher risk, so I make sure to go for an annual mammogram. Personal Health Pathways also aligns exactly here, really understanding my specific health needs and risk factors, and guiding me as to what to do at achievable intervals. It is just incredible to have this level of guidance available to me."

"I also know that staying at a healthy weight, eating well and staying active lowers my overall risk. So that's what I focus on."

"Personal Health Pathways has changed my life for the better. I'm really grateful for it and I believe it's going to help me to live better - and live longer."

What is Personal Health Pathways?

Personal Health Pathways is a free tool available to adult DHMS members via the Discovery Health app. It provides personalised, real-time health recommendations based on each member's unique profile. As a member's health journey evolves, so does their pathway, continuously updating based on their specific health status, risk profile and engagement patterns and dynamically adjusting as new health data become available.

Personal Health Pathways combines artificial intelligence, predictive analytics and behavioural science. The platform uses more than 50 million life years of health claims and clinical data, along with nearly 30 million life years of exercise and lifestyle data gathered through Vitality in South Africa, to recommend actions that have the greatest potential to improve health outcomes.

Members earn rewards for engaging, including shopping vouchers, Ðiscovery Miles and instant rewards. Those Scheme members who are also Vitality members earn personalised rewards through Personal Health Pathways in addition to their Vitality rewards.

Then, each Personal Health Pathways cycle provides up to two clinical actions and one weekly exercise goal, which must be completed by a set date. Members can earn up to R500 into a new Personal Health Fund for each completed action, up to a maximum of R10,000. The money that is accumulated in the Personal Health Fund can be used for day-to-day medical expenses, including GP and specialist consultations, medicine, radiology and pathology.