ILOILO CITY -- Doctors practicing in areas experiencing a shortage of health professionals will get additional professional fees for services subsidized by the Philippine Health Insurances Corp. (PhilHealth).

This was among the new benefits planned for 2009, according to Dr. Rey Aquino, PhilHealth president and chief executive officer.

Aquino who was here Thursday for his first regional visit since he assumed office, said the incentive would be one way of encouraging doctors to stay and continue serving in the country, especially in areas lacking health professionals.

The additional fee has yet to be determined but Aquino said it would be "substantial."

The other new benefits include the payment for the fourth normal spontaneous delivery. At present, PhilHealth pays only for the first to the third normal spontaneous deliveries.

"But we are not encouraging our members to have more babies," Aquino said in jest during a forum with officials.

Aquino said the agency would also provide benefits for the outpatient treatment of malaria and HIV/AIDS as part of efforts to lower the incidence rates of these diseases.

The package, amounting to P600 per beneficiary, will include payment for laboratories and diagnostics. This will initially be made available through rural health units and health centers.

PhilHealth is also planning to implement a case payment scheme wherein a set amount per service will be paid to the doctor.

Aquino said the agency has been finalizing the set payment scheme for around 280 surgical procedures. This will require official receipts from doctors in claiming PhilHealth payments.

PhilHealth also plans to include among its benefits drugs for outpatients with diabetes and hypertension, which according to Aquino, are among the chief health expenses among Filipinos.

PhilHealth has around 66 million members or 73 percent of the country's population and has accredited 1,500 hospitals. In 2007, the agency paid benefits amounting to P18 billion.