The prevention dividend – why earlier action is changing healthcare outcomes

Over the past decade, mortality among Discovery Health Medical Scheme members has declined by 5.6%. This improvement reflects a combination of earlier diagnosis, stronger treatment pathways, broader access to high-quality healthcare and sustained behaviour change. It demonstrates an important principle: better health outcomes are not accidental. They are achieved through deliberate action.

The findings come from the HealthTrend2026 Report by Discovery Health, based on more than 60 million life-years of clinical, lifestyle and behavioural data from Discovery Health Medical Scheme, which covers more than 2.7 million members. The report highlights how healthcare demand is changing as people live longer and spend more years managing chronic conditions.

Living longer changes healthcare demand

One of the clearest findings from the report is that members are living longer and in better health. However, this creates a new challenge. As longevity improves, more people are living with multiple, overlapping conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer and mental health conditions.

Healthcare is therefore shifting from episodic treatment to long-term management. The focus is no longer only on treating illness when it occurs. It is increasingly about identifying risk earlier, preventing disease progression and supporting members over a longer healthcare journey.

Cardiovascular health remains the biggest opportunity

Cardiovascular disease sits at the centre of many of the challenges facing healthcare today. It is one of the largest drivers of healthcare spend and a major contributor to the development and progression of other chronic conditions.

The encouraging reality is that cardiovascular health is also one of the most modifiable areas of healthcare. Many of the major risk factors, including physical inactivity, poor sleep, smoking and obesity, can be addressed through earlier intervention and sustained behaviour change.

The report shows that acting earlier on cardiovascular risk has the potential to improve outcomes, reduce complications and extend years of life in good health.

The prevention dividend

At the centre of the report is the concept of the Prevention Dividend.

Simply put, the Prevention Dividend is the measurable benefit created when health risks are identified earlier and the right actions are sustained over time. These actions include screening, clinical interventions, physical activity, sleep and other healthy behaviours.

The evidence shows that earlier intervention can slow disease progression, reduce complications and improve long-term outcomes. Advances in data, behavioural science and technology are making it possible to personalise these interventions and guide members towards the next best action at the right time.

This is prevention moving from a broad concept to a more precise, personalised and measurable healthcare strategy.

Prevention and protection go hand in hand

While prevention can improve outcomes, healthcare remains inherently unpredictable.

In 2025, just 1% of Discovery Health Medical Scheme members accounted for 33% of total healthcare spend, while the top 5% accounted for 63% of spend. These costs are often driven by serious, life-changing events such as cardiovascular disease and cancer that can occur without warning and at any stage of life

This highlights an equally important role of healthcare funding: protection. The value of medical scheme cover is most visible when members face severe illness, require complex treatment or experience a major medical event.

The future of healthcare lies in balancing both objectives. We must continue helping people stay healthier for longer through earlier intervention and behaviour change, while ensuring they remain protected when unexpected health events occur. That combination of prevention and protection is what will ultimately improve outcomes and support the long-term sustainability of healthcare.

Dr Ron Whelan CEO of Discovery Health
www.discovery.co.za @Discovery_SA 0860 99 88 77