Doctors are being paid to keep patients healthy instead of only when they are sick. Discovery Health has decided to pay doctors more for having healthier diabetic patients whose condition is managed so that they do not develop complications that need treatment in hospital.Discovery Health CEO Jonathan Broomberg said: "Discovery Health is reimbursing some doctors based on outcomes through our premier practice programme, which rewards GPs for improved outcomes in patients with diabetes or heart disease."Broomberg said paying more for healthier patients would soon be extended to doctors who manage other diseases. Discovery is also working on changing the way in which it pays hospitals to reward successful treatment.A hospital would be paid more for a better outcome - but could be penalised if the patient developed complications as a result of bad treatment.This is a move away from the current "fee for service" model of healthcare in which the patient or medical aid society pays for each doctor's visit, each bandage and each test.The model, used worldwide, has been criticised for driving up health costs and incentivising doctors to do more tests, for each of which they get paid.Intercare, a day-hospital group that also owns dental and GP practices, said it was changing the way it bills medical aids.It is negotiating with medical schemes to start charging for certain procedures done in a day hospital for a set fee or bundle payment."[We are at] the beginning of the process," said Intercare CEO Hendrik Hanekom.Intercare chairman George Veliotes said: "Around the world, you pay for every doctor's consultation and test. It is like a menu and you pay per item. In fact it is like paying for the lettuce, tomato and beef in a hamburger."But we are moving towards selling healthcare as a package. You will pay for the hamburger, not the bun, the meat and fillings individually."Doctors would get a set fee per month for managing a chronic disease patient with a condition such as depression, diabetes or high blood pressure.The set fee would include all medicine and all consultations...