Young adult mental health is becoming an increasingly important driver of healthcare demand in South Africa. This is according to Discovery Health’s HealthTrend26 report. Among members aged 18 to 30, the prevalence of mental health claims has increased by 80% over the past decade. The report draws on more than 60 million life-years of clinical, lifestyle and behavioural data. It…
Tag: healthcare trends
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Discovery Health Sees Membership Decline in 2024
Discovery Health Medical Scheme (DHMS) is navigating a challenging landscape. A recent annual report, released ahead of its AGM, reveals a notable decline in membership across several of its core medical plan options in 2024 compared with 2023. Nine out of the 16 core DHMS medical plan options experienced a drop in members. Seven plans saw increases. One of these…
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As competition heats up, Novo Nordisk’s share price declines
Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk, renowned for its diabetes and weight loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy, has experienced a significant share price drop of around 19% this month. This decline follows its market peak in June, driven by increasing competition from Eli Lilly, a key player in the same space. Eli Lilly has gained substantial momentum with its rival drugs,…
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Younger South Africans turning to medical insurance
Medical schemes in South Africa operate on a community-rated system, offering open enrollment where members pay the same contributions regardless of their health status or age. According to the Council for Medical Schemes (CMS) 2023/24 annual report, about nine million people belong to 71 registered medical schemes. However, younger South Africans are increasingly turning to medical insurance, which offers lower…