FIELD OF INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates generally to a cellular service provider based healthcare service management system and more particularly to, a method of paying towards a healthcare investment by a partnership between healthcare service provider and the healthcare service users such as patients, through a cellular service provider.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

[0002] Healthcare facilities in rural areas of most of the developing countries are poor. Primarily this is due to lack of investments by healthcare service providers in rural areas. The healthcare service providers are not keen on investing in the rural market and even financial institutions are skeptical to finance the investments in rural area. To improve the healthcare facility in rural area, the investments especially, the investments on medial equipments should improve. It will be beneficial to have investments in rural area made in partnership with healthcare service providers and its users.

[0003] Usage of cellular or mobile phones in certain developing countries is very high. One possibility of integrating existing cellular network with the healthcare domain is by assisting the healthcare service provider in processing various payments through cellular service provider. As competition is high in the field of cellular service providers, it will be beneficial for them to offer different services for the healthcare domain.

[0004] Conventionally, a patient pays for medical examination including the consultation and diagnostic procedures at the hospital registration or cash counter or directly to the clinician. If a patient has to pay the cash at the counter, he may need to wait for a long time. If the healthcare service provider engages any financial institution such as bank to process the payment, the patient might end up going to bank to make the payments. It will be beneficial to have an easy payment method for patient to pay for the healthcare services.

[0005] Another aspect is to purchase medical or diagnostic device, the healthcare service provider has to make huge payments in advance, before he actually purchases the
equipment. Many times, the healthcare service providers are not able to make the full payment in advance and hence avoid investing in medical devices. Even if some of the financial institutions are ready to fund the investment, the healthcare service providers may not want to be involved in handling the payments and maintaining the accounts. It will be beneficial, if someone else handles the payments on behalf of the healthcare service provider.

[0006] For device manufacturer, it is difficult to convince the healthcare service provider for an investment in rural area as the initial investment is high and they are unsure of the return on investment. It will be beneficial to allow the healthcare service provider to make part payment initially and then make the remaining payments later. This will help the manufacturer to sell more devices, as it will be more affordable to the healthcare service providers. Further, device manufacturer need not have to wait for the full payment before they ship the product to the healthcare service provider. This simplifies and accelerates the process.

[0007] Thus there exist a need to have a method and system to facilitate healthcare service payments through existing cellular service provider and assist the healthcare service providers in finding financial support.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0008] The above-mentioned shortcomings, disadvantages and problems are addressed herein which will be understood by reading and understanding the following specification.

[0009] One embodiment of the present invention provides a healthcare service management system configured to facilitate interaction between a medical device manufacturer, a healthcare service provider, a cellular service provider and a user. The system comprises: a communication module configured to obtain existing business relation between the device manufacturer and healthcare service provider and business relation between the healthcare service provider and the cellular service provider; a
payment module configured to establish user payment methods to the healthcare service provider for services of the healthcare service provider; a facilitation module configured to facilitate interaction between the communication module and the payment module to facilitate payment to the medical device manufacturer through the cellular service provider by payment made by the user to the healthcare service provider.

[0010] In another embodiment, a method of managing healthcare services is disclosed. The method comprises: facilitating interaction between a healthcare service provider, a device manufacturer and a user through a cellular service provider; procuring a medical device by the healthcare service provider from the device manufacturer, by making part payment of the device; authorizing the cellular service provider to make payment to the device manufacturer through payment made by the user for the service of the healthcare service provider or the services of purchased medical device; making payment for the services of the healthcare service provider by the user through the cellular service provider along with payment for other cellular service provider services; and paying a predefined amount to the device manufacturer by the cellular service provider and adjusting the payment to the healthcare service provider.

[0011] In yet another embodiment, a cellular service provider based healthcare services payment system is disclosed. The system comprises: a cellular communication device configured to allow its users to make payment for the services of a healthcare service provider through the communication device; a cellular network capable of facilitating interaction among at least two entities, the entities include device manufacturer, healthcare service provider and user, having predefined relation on payment means; and a processor configured to handle payments to the device manufacturer on behalf of healthcare service provider through the payment made by the user.

[0012] Various other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be made apparent to those skilled in the art from the accompanying drawings and detailed description thereof

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] FIG. is a generic block diagram of a healthcare service management system capable of interacting with different entities as described in an embodiment of the invention;

[0014] FIG.2 is a block diagram of a healthcare service management system as described in an embodiment of the invention;

[0015] FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of managing healthcare services as described in an embodiment of the invention;

[0016] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of managing a healthcare service by managing a healthcare service provider using a cellular service provider, as described in an embodiment of the invention;

[0017] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of managing a healthcare service by managing a device manufacturer using a cellular service provider, as described in an embodiment of the invention;

[0018] FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method of managing a healthcare service by managing a user payment using a cellular service provider, as described in an embodiment of the invention; and

[0019] FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a cellular service provider based healthcare services payment system as described in an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

[0020] In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments that may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the embodiments, and it is to be
understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that logical, mechanical, electrical and other changes may be made without departing from the scope of the embodiments. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken as limiting the scope of the invention. To the extent that the figures illustrate diagrams of the functional blocks of various embodiments, the functional blocks are not necessarily indicative of the division between hardware circuitry. Thus, for example, one or more of the functional blocks (e.g., processors or memories) may be implemented in a single piece of hardware (e.g., a general purpose signal processor or a block of random access memory, hard disk, or the like). Similarly, the programs may be stand alone programs, may be incorporated as subroutines in an operating system, may be functions in an installed software package, and the like. It should be understood that the various embodiments are not limited to the arrangements and instrumentality shown in the drawings.

[0021] Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and system for managing healthcare services. A user is registered to make the payments for services of the healthcare service provider through a cellular service provider. Further the cellular service provider assists the healthcare service provider in managing the payment due to a device manufacturer, through the money received from the user.

[0022] The term "healthcare care service provider" referred in the specification includes any healthcare-providing agency like hospital, clinics, nursing homes, or individual medical practitioners inclining clinician, physicians, lab technicians etc. The term healthcare service provider covers anyone who is catering healthcare services. The term "device manufacturer" includes any individual or company who is involved manufacturing, selling or financing of medical equipments. Medical equipments could include pharmaceutical products, kits, diagnostic equipment etc, but need not be limited to these examples. The device manufacturer could be involved in activity that will aid the healthcare service provider in facilitating the healthcare service to a user. The term " cellular service provider" includes any communication network capable of facilitating
interaction among various entities. The term " user" includes patient, patient representative or any individual or agency registered with the cellular service provider or any financial agency such as insurance company who will be paying to the healthcare service provider on behalf of the patient. The user needs to have a communication device such as phone, a cellular phone, PDA, Pager etc, but need not be limited to these examples.

[0023] FIG. is a generic block diagram of a healthcare service management system capable of interacting with different entities as described in an embodiment of the invention. In an embodiment, healthcare service management system 100 is configured to interact with a device manufacturer 110, a healthcare service provider 120, a cellular service provider 130 and a user 140. An agreement is made between the healthcare service provider 120 and the device manufacturer 110 for purchasing a medical device. The healthcare service provider 120 will be making a part payment initially and the remaining payments will be made to the device manufacturer 110 in installments. Upon receiving the initial payment the medical device is provided to the healthcare service provider 120. Further an agreement is made between the healthcare service provider 120 and the cellular service provider 130 regarding repayment of the balance amount to the device manufacturer 110. The cellular service provider 130 may repay the balance amount to the device manufacturer 110 in monthly installment from the payment received from the user 140. For this, the user 140 needs to be registered with the cellular service provider 130 and to avail services of the healthcare service provider 120, the payment to the healthcare service 120 is made through the cellular service provider 130. The cellular service provider 130 may charge a service fee to the healthcare service provider 120 or the user 140 or the device manufacturer 110 or all. The healthcare service management system 100 receives the relation defined between the healthcare service provider 120 and the device manufacturer 110 and the cellular service provider 130 and the healthcare service provider 120. Further healthcare service management system 100 obtains the payment means from the user 140 or the relation defined between the user 140 and the cellular service provider 130. The healthcare service movement system 100 facilitates
interaction among the healthcare service provider 120 and the cellular service provider 130. The cellular service provider 130 provides a unique code for the healthcare service provider 120 and the user 140 makes the payment using this code. Upon receiving the payment from the user 140, the cellular service provider 130 pays the device manufacturer 110. The healthcare service provider 120 provides personal account information to the cellular service provider 130 and the payment transactions are adjusted in the personal account of the healthcare service provider 120. The term personal account information could include details of any alternate finance-handling agency for the healthcare service provider 120. For example, back account information, wherein the healthcare service provider's money needs to be credited/debited. The healthcare service management system 100 provides monthly report on the payments to the device manufacturer 110 and the healthcare service provider 120. The cellular service provider 130 charges the amount paid to the healthcare service provider and the device manufacturer. The cellular service provider 130 charges the user 140 along with the monthly payment bill for post paid cellular connections and instant deduction from the talk time for pre-paid cellular connections.

[0024] In an embodiment, the cellular service provider 130 assigns a unique code to the healthcare service provider 120. The registered users 140 are provided with this unique code. Whenever the user 140 wishes to avail the service of the healthcare service provider 120, the user 140 informs the cellular service provider 130. In an embodiment, the user 130 sends a Short Messaging Service (SMS) to the unique code along with the amount to be paid. Once the cellular service provider 130 receives the patient indication, the cellular service provider 130 confirms the receipt of payment from the user 140 to the healthcare service provider 120. Once the healthcare service provider 120 receives the payment confirmation from the cellular service provider 130, the healthcare service provider 120 provides desired service to the user 140. The service may directly involve the services of the medical device purchased by the healthcare service provider 120 from the device manufacturer 110. For example, if the healthcare service provider 120 purchases a scanner form the device manufacturer 110, each time a scan is performed, a
certain amount received from the user for scanning should be paid to the device manufacturer 110. Once the cellular service provider 130 receives the payment indication or payment from the user 140, a pre-defined/ pre-fixed amount is paid to the device manufacturer. Thus predefined amount is paid towards the pending payment to the device manufacturer 110 on behalf of the healthcare service provider 130. The healthcare service management system 100 facilitates interaction among different service providers and assists the healthcare service provider 120 in managing the repayments to the device manufacturer 110.

[0025] FIG.2 is a block diagram of a healthcare service management system as described in an embodiment of the invention. The healthcare service manufacturer system 200 is configured to facilitate interaction between the device manufacturer 210, healthcare service provider 220, cellular service provider 230 and a user 240. The healthcare service management system 200 comprises a communication module 202, payment module 204 and facilitation module 206.

[0026] The communication module 202 is configured to obtain existing business relation between the device manufacturer 210 and healthcare service provider 220 and business relation between the healthcare service provider 220 and the cellular service provider 230. Between the healthcare service provider 220 and the device manufacturer 210 a business relation is established. For example, healthcare service provider 220 may like to buy a medical device from the device manufacturer 210 by paying an initial payment. The initial payment, repayments options, device details, purchase details etc has been discussed and agreed between the device manufacturer 210 and the healthcare service provider 220 and this forms the business relation among the device manufacturer 210 and the healthcare service provider 220. Similarly business relation is established between the healthcare service provider 220 and the cellular service provider 230. The payment methods, amount, service charges for cellular service provider 230 etc must be decided and this forms the business relation among the healthcare service provider 220 and the cellular service provider 230. The communication module 202 interacts with the
device manufacturer 210, healthcare service provider 220 and cellular service provider 230 and obtains various business relation defined and established among them.

[0027] The payment module 204 is configured to establish the user's 240 payment methods to the healthcare service provider 220 for services of the healthcare service provider 220. The cellular service provider 230 and the user 240 establish a relation defining the payment method to the healthcare service provider 220 through the cellular service provider 230. For example, the user 240 may register for paying the healthcare service provider 220 through the cellular service provider 230. For this, the user 240 may need to register certain details such as his cellular communication device identification and his personal identification information with the cellular service provider 230. Further the payment module 204 in association with the communication module 202 defines a unique code for the healthcare service provider 220 and the unique code could be communicated to the registered users 240. Once the user 240 is registered, whenever the user 240 wants to avail the services of the healthcare service provider 220, the user 240 sends an intimation to the cellular service provider 230 and the cellular service provider 230 confirms the receipts of the amount to the healthcare service provider 220. The user 240 may use the unique code corresponding to the healthcare service provider 220 in communicating with the cellular service provider 230. TTie payment module 204 is configured to establish user payment methods to the healthcare service provider 220. In an embodiment, the user payments are made through the cellular service provider 230. This payment relation is established between the cellular service provider 230 and the user 240 through the payment module 204.

[0028] The healthcare service management system 200 further comprises the facilitation module 206 and the facilitation module 206 is configured to facilitate interaction between the communication module 202 and the payment module 204 to facilitate payment to the medical device manufacturer through the cellular service provider 230 by payment made by the user 240 to the healthcare service provider 220.

[0029] In an embodiment, the facilitation module 206 facilitates interaction of the user 240 with the cellular service provider 230. This could be achieved through a communication device associated with the user 240. The user 240 thus communicates the need of obtaining a healthcare service from the healthcare service provider 220. This could be communicated to the cellular service provider 230 by the user 240 by sending an intimation indicating the service and desired amount using the unique code corresponding to the healthcare service provider 220. The facilitation module 206 further facilitates the interaction between the cellular service provider 230 and the healthcare service provider 220. This could be achieved through a communication device associated with the healthcare service provider 220. The cellular service provider 230 confirms the payment from the user to the healthcare service provider 220. The facilitation module 206 is further configured to facilitate interaction of the cellular service provider 230 with the device manufacturer 210. This also could be achieved through a communication device associated with the device manufacturer 210. The facilitation module 206 facilitates interaction of the healthcare service provider 220, user 240 and the device manufacturer 210 through the cellular service providers 230 and ensures the payment of the device manufacturer 210 on behalf of the healthcare service provider 220 through the payment received from the user 240 for the services from the healthcare service provider 220.

[0030] FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of managing healthcare services as described in an embodiment of the invention. At step 310, facilitation between a healthcare service provider, a device manufacturer and user is facilitated trough a cellular service provider. This could be facilitated by predefining the business relation among the service provider, user and the device manufacturer and along with the cellular service provider. Further the healthcare service provider, user and the device manufacturer need to have a communication device that will assist them in interacting with each other through the cellular service provider. At step 320, the healthcare service provider procures a medical device from the device manufacturer. The healthcare service provider only makes an initial part payment and the remaining amount is paid by installments. At step 330, the healthcare service provider authorizes the cellular service provider to make
the remaining payment to the device manufacturer through the payment made by the user for the service provided by the healthcare service provider. At step 340, the user makes the payment for the services of the healthcare service provider to the cellular service provider along with the other cellular service provider services such as cellular communication device usage charges. At step 350, cellular service provider pays a predefined amount from the amount received from the user, to the device manufacturer on behalf of the healthcare service provider towards the payment of the medical device. The remaining amount is paid directly to the healthcare service provider after deducting service charges of the cellular service provider.

[0031] In an embodiment, an amount is fixed for a month. The cellular service provider may pay the desired monthly installment to the device manufacturer and incase of any excess user payment, the user payments could be paid directly to the healthcare service provider. In the event of having not sufficient payment from the users to pay for the monthly installments, the cellular service provider may pay the amount from the healthcare service provider's personal account.

[0032] In an embodiment, there may not be any monthly fixed installment to pay for the device manufacturer. Instead, each time the medical device purchased from the device manufacturer is used, a pre fixed amount is paid to the device manufacturer.

[0033] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of managing a healthcare service by managing a healthcare service provider using a cellular service provider, as described in an embodiment of the invention. At step 405, a healthcare service provider approaches a cellular service provider to register for a payment process. In an embodiment, payment process includes receiving payment from one entity and paying part of the same to another entity on behalf of the healthcare service provider based on predefined rules. At step 410, the cellular service provider obtains relation or agreement between the healthcare service provider and the device manufacturer. In an embodiment, the healthcare service provider negotiates with a device manufacturer and may purchase a medical device by making an initial payment to the device manufacturer. The remaining
payment will be paid in monthly installments. At step 415, payment pattern and the relation is defined between the cellular service provider and the healthcare service provider. The healthcare service provider authorizes the cellular service provider to collect the payment from the user for the services provided by the healthcare service provider to the user and handles the payment pending to the device manufacturer. Thus a relation between the cellular service provider and the healthcare service provider is defined. At step 420, cellular service provider provides a unique code corresponding to the healthcare service provider. This masque code represents the healthcare service provider and user uses this code to make the payment for the healthcare service provider. At step 425, the cellular service provider receives personal account information of the healthcare service provider. The unique code representing the healthcare service provider and the personal account information is linked as at step 430, At step 435, the cellular service provider receives a payment indication from registered users. The unique code is provided to the user and the user uses this code to make the payment. At step 440, the cellular service provider confirms the receipt of payment from the user to the healthcare service provider. At step 445 a check is made to confirm whether any payment is due to the device manufacturer. If no payment is due to the device manufacturer stop the payment process as in step 450, If the amount is due to the device manufacturer, the cellular service provider pays a decided amount to the manufacturer on behalf of the healthcare service provider as at step 455. At step 460, payment information is communicated to the healthcare service provider. Cellular service provider updates the personal account information of the healthcare service provider, as shown at step 465, In case of any balance amount from the user payment, its paid to the personal account of the healthcare service provider. At step 470, the cellular service provider provides a monthly report to the healthcare service provider indicating the payments made to the device manufacturer, indicating payment credited to the personal account, pending payment to the device manufacturer etc.

[0034] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of managing a healthcare service by managing a device manufacturer using a cellular service provider, as described in an
embodiment of the invention. The device manufacturer is having an established relation between a healthcare service provider and the device manufacturer. In an embodiment, the healthcare service provider might have purchased a medical device by making initial part payment and agreeing to pay the remaining amount in monthly installments. At step 510, the cellular service provider confirms the relation between the healthcare service provider and the device manufacturer with the device manufacturer. At step 520, the cellular service provider communicates to the device manufacturer, the payment method and pattern agreed between the healthcare service provider and the cellular service provider. At step 530, cellular service provider communicates a unique code generated corresponding to the healthcare service provider to the device manufacturer. This is to reconfirm the payment process. At step 540, the cellular service provider pays a predefined amount to the device manufacturer from the payment received from the users. At step 550, the cellular service provider communicates the payment information to the device manufacturer. At step 560, the cellular service provider maintains a record for the payment made to the device manufacturer. At step 570, cellular service provider sends a monthly report to the device manufacturer indicating the payments handled and the pending amount. At step 580, a check is made to confirm any amount is due to the device manufacturer by the healthcare service provider. If so, the cellular service provider continues to make payment to the device manufacturer on behalf of the healthcare service provider. If there is no payment due, the payment process is ended as shown at step 590.

[0035] FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method of managing a healthcare service by managing a user payment using a cellular service provider, as described in an embodiment of the invention. At step 610, a user registers for a payment scheme with the cellular service provider. In an embodiment, the user is able to pay the charges for the service of a healthcare service provider through a communication device or cellular phone associated with the cellular service provider. At step 620, the cellular service provider provides a unique code corresponding to the healthcare service provider to the registered users. At step 630, cellular service provider receives indication fi-om the user expressing the wish to avail the services of the service provider. The user may send a
short service message to the unique code suggesting the services the user intends to avail and/or the desired amount. At step 640, the cellular service provider communicates to the healthcare service provider that the payment has been received from the user. At step 650, the cellular service provider communicates to the user that the payment information has been communicated to the healthcare service provider. This acts a conformation that the use has paid for the services of the healthcare service provider. Using this conformation the user can avail the services of the healthcare service provider without making any direct payment to the healthcare service provider. At step 660, the cellular service provider charges the amount to the user. This could be done by adding the amount to the monthly bill of the cellular service provider to the user or could deduct from the talk time or other services for which the user might have already paid the cellular service provider.

[0036] FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a cellular service provider based healthcare services payment system as described in an embodiment of the invention. The system comprises cellular service provider 700 having at least one cellular communication device 710, a cellular network 720 and a processor 730. The cellular communication device 710 is associated with a user, for example patients. In an example, the cellular communication device is a mobile phone. The cellular communication device 710 may be provided to the patients/user, a device manufacturer, and to a healthcare service provider. However the device manufacturer and healthcare service provider can have a communication device that is not directly associated with the cellular service provider 700. The cellular communication device communicates through the cellular network 720. The cellular network could include cellular systems using Code-Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Time-Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Personal Digital Cellular (PDC), or using any packet data technology. Through the cellular network720, and the cellular communication device 710, the user interacts width the healthcare service provider. In an embodiment, the communication device 710 associated with the user is registered for making payments for the services of a healthcare service provider. This could be done by registering the communication device 710 with the cellular service provider 700. The user is able to make the payment for any service from the healthcare service provider through the cellular communication device 710,

[0037] The processor 730 associated with the cellular service provider 700 is configured to make the payment to the device manufacturer on behalf of healthcare service provider through the payment made by the user. The processor 730 comprises a communication module, payment module and facilitation module. The communication module interacts with the device manufacturer, healthcare service provider and obtains various business relation defines and established among them. The processor 730 could also be associated with a memory (not shown) wherein, the relation between the cellular service provider 700 and the healthcare service provider could be stored and could be accessed by the communication module. The payment module is configured to establish user payment methods to the healthcare service provider through the cellular service provider 700. The facilitation module facilitates interaction of the healthcare service provider, user and the device manufacturer through the cellular service provider 700 and ensures the payment of the device manufacturer on behalf of the healthcare service provider through the payment received from the user for the services from the healthcare service provider.

[0038] In an embodiment, the cellar service provider can have a list of healthcare service providers, contact details, the services offered and the charges. The cellular service provider may guide the user in obtaining the right services from the right healthcare service providers.

[0039] Embodiments of the present invention can comprise software or firmware instructing a computer to perform certain actions. Some embodiments of the present invention comprise stand-alone workstation computers that include memory, a display, and a processor along with the cellular service provider. Whether a stand-alone workstation or a healthcare service management system is used, software and/or firmware (hereinafter referred to generically as "software") can be used to instruct the computer to
perform the inventive combination of actions described herein. Portions of the software may have specific functions, and these portions are herein referred to as "modules". However, in some embodiments, these modules may comprise one or more electronic hardware components or special-purpose hardware components that may be configured to perform the same purpose as the software module or to aid in the performance of the software module. Thus, a "module" may also refer to hardware or a combination of hardware and software performing a function.

[0040] The processor 730 may include dedicated hardware, software and/or firmware for performing information processing, or a combination of dedicated hardware and software, or software in combination with a general purpose processor, or a digital signal processor. Once the requirements for such software and/or hardware and/or dedicated hardware are gained from an understanding of the descriptions of embodiments of the invention contained herein, the choice of any particular implementation may be left to a hardware engineer and/or software engineer. However, any dedicated and/or special purpose hardware or special purpose processor is considered subsumed in the block labeled processor 730. The memory may include, for example, random access memory (RAM), flash memory, or read-only memory. For purposes of simplicity, devices that can read and/or write media on which computer programs are recorded are also included within the scope of the term "memory."

[0041] Thus the invention provides method and system for method of paying towards a healthcare investment by a partnership between healthcare service provider and the healthcare service users such as patients, through a cellular service provider. The advantages of the invention include a mutually beneficial payment method for healthcare service provider, device manufacturer and users. The healthcare service provider benefits by not having to invest large amounts for purchasing of medical device at the time of purchase. The healthcare service providers may provide services without having to worry about the large investments and modes of repayments. The user/patient is benefited by easy payment method and more access to the healthcare service. The payment method
encourages investments in rural areas. Device manufacturers are also benefits as more healthcare service providers may invest in medical devices. Cellular Service providers are benefited as they get to grow into a new field of electronic commerce and grow their revenue with their existing infrastructure.

[0042] As used herein, an element or step recited in the singular and proceeded with the word "a" or "an" should be understood as not excluding plural elements or steps, unless such exclusion is explicitly stated. Furthermore, references to "one embodiment" of the present invention are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features. Moreover, unless explicitly stated to the contrary, embodiments "comprising" or "having" an element or a plurality of elements having a particular property may include additional such elements not having that property. Moreover, the terms "computer" and "processor" are used interchangeably herein to refer to either specialized hardware to perform digital signal processing, control, data manipulation, and/or calculations, or a general purpose computer that can be programmed to perform the same functions and/or adapted to interface with external digital signals.

[0043] Exemplary embodiments are described above in detail. The assemblies and methods are not limited to the specific embodiments described herein, but rather, components of each assembly and/or method may be utilized independently and separately from other components described herein. Further the steps involved in the workflow need not follow the sequence in which there are illustrated in figures and all the steps in the work flow need not be performed necessarily to complete the method.

[0044] While the invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain substitutions, alterations and omissions may be made to the embodiments without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description is meant to be exemplary only, and should not limit the scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

We Claim:

1. A healthcare service management system configured to facilitate interaction
between a device manufacturer, a healthcare service provider, a cellular service
provider and a user comprises:
a communication module configured to obtain existing business relation between the device manufacturer and healthcare service provider and business relation between the healthcare service provider and the cellular service provider;
a payment module configured to establish user payment methods to the healthcare service provider for services of the healthcare service provider;
a facilitation module configured to facilitate interaction between the communication module and the payment module to facilitate payment to the medical device manufacturer through the cellular service provider by payment made by the user to the healthcare service provider.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the communication module is configured to obtain business relation between the device manufacturer and healthcare service provider including agreement to make healthcare service provider a part payment to the medical device manufacturer for purchasing a medical device and to make the remaining payments by installments.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the communication module is configured to obtain business relation between the healthcare service provider and the cellular service provider including agreement to make the cellular service provider handle the payments to the device manufacturer on behalf of the healthcare service provider and agreement to obtain payment from the user for services of the healthcare service provider.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the facilitation module is configured to obtain payment from the user for a service by the healthcare service provider and make the payment to the device manufacturer and is configured to maintain payment record for the device manufacturer and the healthcare service provider.

5. A method of managing healthcare services comprising the steps of:
facilitating interaction between a healthcare service provider, a device manufacturer and a user through a cellular service provider;
procuring a medical device by the healthcare service provider from the device manufacturer, by making part payment of the device;
authorizing the cellular service provider to make payment to the device manufacturer through payment made by the user for the service of the healthcare service provider or services of the purchased medical device;
making payment for the services of the healthcare service provider by the user through the cellular service provider along with payment for other cellular service provider services; and
paying a predefined amount to the device manufacturer by the cellular service provider and adjusting the payment to the healthcare service provider.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the step of authorizing the cellular provider comprises fixing a service charge for the cellular service provider.

7. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the step of making payment for the services by the user comprises:
sending an indication to a cellular service provider, instructing the cellular service provider to make payments to the healthcare provider on behalf of the user for a specific service from the healthcare service provider;
informing the healthcare service provider and the user about the payment; and billing the user through his payment towards the cellular service provider;

8. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the step of paying a predefined
amount by the cellular service provider comprises:
establishing a payment method through cellular service provider for paying for healthcare services;
creating a unique account information for the healthcare service provider with the cellular service provider;
associating the unique account information with healthcare service provider's personal account;
paying a predefined amount of pending payment to the device manufacturer by the healthcare service provider towards the payment of the device;
adjusting the healthcare service provider's personal account; and
informing the healthcare service provider about the payment received from the user and payment made to the manufacturer.

9. A cellular service provider based healthcare services payment system comprises:
a cellular communication device configured to allow its users to make payment for the services of a healthcare service provider through the communication device;
a cellular network capable of facilitating interaction among at least two entities, the entities include device manufacturer, healthcare service provider and user, having predefined relation on payment means; and a processor configured to handle payments to the device manufacturer on behalf of the healthcare service provider through the payment made by the user.

10. The system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the processor includes: a
communication module configured to obtain existing business relation between the device manufacturer and healthcare service provider and business relation between the healthcare service provider and the cellular service provider; a payment module configured to establish user payment methods to the healthcare service provider for services of the healthcare service provider; and a facilitation module configured to facilitate interaction between the communication module and the payment module to facilitate payment to the medical device manufacturer through the cellular service provider by payment made by the user to the healthcare service provider.