Dr Niesing's prescription for better health - Start using Personal Health Pathways!

"Personal Health Pathways is an excellent tool for preventative healthcare - and the rich rewards that Scheme members earn for engaging are a great incentive to activate the platform and take part on an ongoing basis," says Dr Engela Niesing, a Gauteng-based GP and mother of two.

Dr Niesing and her husband, both Discovery Health Medical Scheme (DHMS) members, are big fans of Personal Health Pathways. They have, since the platform launched in January 2025, proudly completed most of their recommended next best actions. These are the personalised health actions given to each member in their Pathway, to complete by a set date.

"The best part is that as a result of completing the steps recommended to us, we've built up thousands of rands into our Personal Health Fund as a family. And we're using these funds to pay for everyday healthcare costs."

"I see Personal Health Pathways as incredibly valuable for staying ahead of potential health issues," she explains. "It guides you as to the right preventative steps to take for better health - whether that means doing a health check, making lifestyle changes, or having diagnostic tests done. As a doctor, I know all too well - whether for myself and my family or for my patients, preventing disease is the goal, and where there are health issues to deal with, early detection is critical for a chance at better outcomes."

Shifting from reactive to proactive care

DDr Niesing doesn't just use Personal Health Pathways herself - she actively encourages her patients to use it too.

"What makes Personal Health Pathways especially powerful is that it's aligned with clinical best practice. Doctors can use the insights available through each patient's unique Personal Health Pathway to guide patient conversations, prioritise the right screening or next steps, and monitor progress in a systematic way."

"It's a collaborative model where both the doctor and the patient are equipped with personalised data to make better health decisions."

"Personal Health Pathways tailors its guidance based on a member's age, sex, and health status. For example, it may prompt screenings such as mammograms, prostate exams, cervical cancer checks, or general health checks - all based on individual risk profiles."

"It's empowering. Many patients don't realise they should have certain screenings at specific ages. Personal Health Pathways helps ensure they're informed and reminded at the right time."

"For me, this is a shift from reactive to proactive care," says Dr Niesing. "When patients complete these recommended screenings and we detect an issue like early-stage cancer or the onset of a chronic condition, we're able to intervene before symptoms even begin. Personal Health Pathways also integrates weekly exercise goals which is key to maintaining good health."

When early detection saves lives

Following health recommendations from Personal Health Pathways has already led several of Dr Niesing's patients to be diagnosed with conditions ranging from hypertension to cancer - far earlier than they would otherwise have been.

"One patient went for her mammogram screening after receiving a recommendation from her Personal Health Pathway," explains Dr Niesing. "The mammogram detected breast cancer. Because the cancer was found early, the patient only needed a lumpectomy to remove the mass. She didn't need a mastectomy or more severe treatment like chemotherapy and radiation."

"I also have several patients who have been diagnosed with hyperlipidaemia (high cholesterol) and hypertension (consistently high blood pressure) after Personal Health Pathways prompted them to go for a Health Check. They have since started treatment and are managing their conditions well.

Because these conditions often have no obvious symptoms, they might not have been diagnosed until much later, potentially after causing serious health problems such as heart disease or a heart attack." "Overall, I'm finding that Personal Health Pathways has helped my patients be more informed and empowered about their health. Some patients are making significant lifestyle changes because they better understand their health risks and are motivated to be more physically active."

Seamless integration in consultations

Dr Niesing has integrated Personal Health Pathways into her patient consultations with ease.

"I already used Discovery's HealthID - an electronic health record for patients - so it's just a few extra clicks to check whether a patient has activated their Personal Health Pathway. If they haven't, I help them download the Discovery Health app and activate their Personal Health Pathway while with me.

For those who already have it, I make sure they understand how to follow their next best actions." Through Discovery HealthID, Dr Niesing can see which actions are recommended and how patients are responding - making it easier to guide the next steps.

"Say a female patient over 40 hasn't gone for a mammogram, I'll endorse that as her next best action. It's simple but powerful."

Earning rewards and reaching goals while improving the health of the whole family

In the first six months of 2026, Dr Niesing and her husband earned R11,000 into their Personal Health Fund for completing their health and physical activity actions.

"Our family is on a basic medical aid plan without a medical savings account, so we're motivated to complete our recommended actions and earn funds into our Personal Health Fund. We'll use those funds to help cover co-payments for our child's tonsillectomy in July, my husband's annual MRI scan, and any other day-to-day medical expenses throughout the year."

Dr Niesing has also been motivated by her weekly physical activity goal available through her Personal Health Pathway with a positive knock-on effect on the whole family.

"I often find excuses not to exercise - usually because I'm busy with work or my children. But now I am determined to meet my weekly physical activity goal so I have been exercising more than usual."

"The easiest way for us to reach our physical activity goals is to do a Parkrun every Saturday. My whole family participates - even my four-year-old son! Every weekend we choose a Parkrun at a different venue to keep it exciting. This gets us outdoors together and keeps us active as a family."

A health tool for a modern world

"In today's fast-paced world, having such important health information right on your smartphone is amazing," says Dr Niesing. "Information that is clinically backed, precise, and personalised is incredibly valuable. Each patient can be assured that their pathway is completely tailored to their unique health profile. This equips patients with personalised data that supports better decision-making and improves health outcomes."

"Personal Health Pathways keeps me and my patients engaged, informed and motivated to maintain a healthy lifestyle. It's a holistic, smart approach that benefits both individuals and the healthcare system as a whole."

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.

Each member's Personal Health Pathways cycle provides up to two clinical actions (which must be completed by a set date, and can be deferred to a later deadline) and one weekly exercise goal (which, for Vitality members, is the same as their weekly Vitality Active Rewards Goal).

Members can also choose to take on challenges. Challenges are exciting, goal-driven health journeys (from Better Health Challenges to Move More and Sleep Well challenges which run over a few weeks), each made up of simple, actionable steps, designed to help you build healthy habits and achieve meaningful results.

Members who complete their health actions and achieve their weekly exercise goals earn rewards (through Discovery Health) 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.

Members also earn up to R500 into their Personal Health Fund (through Discovery Health Medical Scheme) for each completed action. The funds accumulated in the Personal Health Fund can be used for day-to-day medical expenses, including GP and specialist consultations, medicine, radiology and pathology. In 2026, you can earn up to R12,000 per policy in the Personal Health Fund, depending on your chosen plan. You can also earn up to R500 for each recommended Personal Health Pathway action you complete, up to a maximum of R3,000 per adult and R1,500 per child.

Dr Niesing says: "The financial incentive that comes with Personal Health Pathways is a huge motivator. It's a brilliant way to offset healthcare costs, freeing up budget for other things. This makes health management feel both purposeful and rewarding."