Sleeping smart: Discovery Vitality to launch rewards programme linked to sleep quality

Discovery Vitality has announced it is launching a Sleep Rewards programme in 2026, which will see clients earn rewards 'just for prioritising rest'.

The Vitality Sleep Score will help you understand – and improve – your sleep like never before, it promises.

On Tuesday, the healthcare group unveiled its new research report on sleep at its inaugural Sleep Summit, bringing together local and global thought leaders.

Titled The Sleep Factor: A Data-Led Blueprint for Better Health the study reveals that sleep has measurable impacts on longevity, mental health, chronic disease and also road safety.

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The reason Vitality is committed to turning sleep into 'a measurable, incentivised health behaviour', is because it is not a luxury but a clinical imperative, said Chief Clinical Officer Dr Mosima Mabunda.

Stephen Grootes gets more detail from Dinesh Govender, CEO of Discovery Vitality SA.

While they have always spoken about sleep quality being a health issue, Govender highlights two statistics from the report that he found particularly disturbing.

The research shows that if you sleep badly, you have a 22% higher chance of death (linked to heart disease, diabetes, depression etcetera), he says.

Equally shocking, Govender goes on, is that poor sleep is linked to a 36% higher risk of motor vehicle accidents.

"This compounds with time, so you've got sleep debt that accumulates, which means that if you sleep badly one night you are worse on the road... but if this is two or three nights in a row, your risk goes up quite exponentially."

In summary, prioritising sleep can reverse health risks and extend life, according to Discovery’s analysis of 47 million sleep records

To listen to Discovery Vitality's Dinesh Govender in conversation with Stephen Grootes on 702's The Money Show, click on the audio link below: