In a boost to its already clear interest in e-health solutions, Microsoft announced this week plans to acquire Thai clinical workflow software developer Global Care Solutions.

The acquisition of Global Care Solutions, based in Bangkok, is designed to enhance the management of clinical workflow, medical records, billing and regulatory compliance at hospitals and other medical facilities. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Global Care worked with Thailand's Bumrungrad International Hospital to design its system, which serves more than 1.2 million patients a year from nearly 200 countries. The hospital uses Global Care's system to manage scheduling and medical records in multiple languages.

Peter Neupert, vice president of Microsoft's Health Solutions Group, noted in a statement that Global Care's "state-of-the-art health information system" allows patients to see a doctor within roughly 17 minutes after arriving at Bumrungrad.

This comes after Microsoft's announcement earlier this month of their new HealthVault system, in which a person can view, from one place, their complete health records. Consumers will be able to view information from medical devices, myriad health care providers and insurance companies as well as share that information with health care providers of their choosing or search for information related to their health issues.

It is also part of a broader health care initiative at Microsoft, which now has 600 people in the area, up from 200 workers just two years ago. The company touts its US$1 billion in health care revenue, though the bulk of that is from sales of Windows, Office and Windows Server. Other plans include an attempt to standardise data in the industry using a common interface.

This is far from the first acquisition for Microsoft in this area. In February, the company bought Medstory, a health-based search company with tools that were recently integrated into the search feature on MSN's health and fitness page. Last year Microsoft acquired patient database company Azyxxi.

Ina Fried of CNET News.com contributed to this report.