\u201cWe\u2019ve identified a large group of members currently using chronic medication to manage four specific conditions, including diabetes and hypertension,\u201d says Jeremy Yatt, Fedhealth Principal Officer. \u201cWe\u2019re offering to run a free gene test for them to test for drug-to-person interaction, so we can assess whether their current medication is doing the best job possible to manage their condition.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fedhealth will also offer gene testing to members with a specific claim history to see if they\u2019re at risk of contracting certain diseases. This testing could reveal, for example, that a person\u2019s body doesn\u2019t process sugar properly, which means they\u2019re at a higher risk of developing diabetes. While they may feel healthy at the moment, knowing this now means they can make lifestyle changes to ensure that they don\u2019t develop diabetes in future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Customising testing<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The gene testing itself is painless and requires a simple cheek swab to be taken and sent to the laboratory for testing. There it is processed, with more than 800 000 gene data points being collected, after which results are securely shared with members and their primary doctors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Beyond the initial pilot programmes, Fedhealth has negotiated a special rate for those members who voluntarily want to have gene testing performed. Members have the option to customise their tests to look for predispositions to certain illnesses*, or to gather lifestyle data, such as dietary preferences or the sports to which they are best suited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf our pilot programmes that kicked off in March start to deliver results in terms of people receiving better quality care and reducing healthcare costs, we plan to roll gene testing out on a bigger scale so that it becomes an ongoing part of our members\u2019 treatment programmes,\u201d says Jeremy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The human body is complex and affected by many factors, but Jeremy believes that knowledge is power. \u201cWe\u2019re excited about the potential for this technology to improve our members\u2019 healthcare and wellbeing, as well as to empower medical professionals to make better decisions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n * Please note: Testing for predisposition to certain conditions will only be available from the fourth quarter of 2023.<\/em><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/newmediacreative.co.za\/afrocentric\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/innovative-dna-technologies-science-medicine-mixed-media-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
![](\"https:\/\/newmediacreative.co.za\/afrocentric\/wp-content\/plugins\/pdf-generator-for-wp\/admin\/src\/images\/PDF_Tray.svg\" "\\"Generate")
<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"