The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth) announced on Monday that it is compensating hospitalization expenses incurred due to Leptospirosis, particularly in hospitals in the National Capital Region.

The country's health insurance agency also temporarily removed the process of presenting an Affidavit of loss to claimants who are requesting for their Number Cards or Member Data records to make it easier for tropical storm Ondoy victims to file reimbursement claims.

Dr. Dr. Rey B. Aquino, Philhealth President, said patients who will be diagnosed as suffering from Weil's disease, a serious form of Leptospirosis characterized by impaired liver and kidney functions are classified as type C and they can avail allowances for hospital room and board fees up to P800 per day and allowances for drugs up to P28,000 per single period of confinement.

"They may also avail of as much as P21,000 for supplies, X-ray and other laboratory exams that may be administered during the entire period of confinement and members may also avail of allowances for the professional fees of attending physicians at P700.00 per day, for a maximum of P5,600.00 for daily visits of specialists," he said.

A sharp increase of Leptospirosis patients, acquired through getting into contact with water infected by animal urine, was noted by the Department of Health (DoH) after the onslaught of Ondoy.

From October 1 to 16, the National Epidemiology Center (NEC) of the DoH has recorded a total of 1,670 admissions and 104 deaths due to Leptospirosis. The case fatality ratio or the ratio of death within a given population has also increased from 7.5 percent in 2008 to 8.6 percent this year, DoH Secretary Francisco T. Duque III said earlier.

Consequently, from January to June this year, Philhealth has paid some P2.3 million in benefits for the confinement of members and their dependents due to leptospirosis. The amount covers payment for an estimated 324 claims with an average of P7,377.00 per claim.

Philhealth will also dispense an additional allowance of P560 to patients requiring dialysis for the professional fee of kidney experts and another P1,200 per session for the use of the hemodialysis room.

The Leptospira bacteria attacks the kidneys causing impairment on its functions, Dr. Elizabeth Montemayor, head of Nephrology section of the Department of Internal Medicine of the Philippine General Hospital said.

"From the very beginning, the Leptospira bacteria attacks the kidneys resulting to immunologic complication. If the patient seems yellowish, then it means, the liver has been affected already...that is why it is important for the patient to seek early medical consultation," the expert said in a separate interview.

"The kidneys can recover in a few days if the patient submits himself or herself to medical consultation earlier. If we are not able to immediately remove the toxins in the body, aggressive management is needed. Early consultation will prevent dialysis," Dr. Montemayor explained.