CHARLOTTE, N.C. (March 9, 2006) The Premier alliance of nearly 1,500 hospitals and health systems has announced a special group buy for Siemens medical imaging systems, as well as associated contrast media injectors from Mallinckrodt and Medrad.

The event, which runs through June 30, 2006, offers considerable savings opportunities to members who are planning to add to or enhance their medical imaging capabilities. All members of Premier are eligible to participate. Members may take delivery any time from March 1, 2006 through June 30, 2008.

This is an area where Premier can bring extraordinary value to our members, said Susan D. DeVore, president of Premier Purchasing Partners, L.P. These are expensive pieces of capital equipment. By aggregating the volume of many members, we can enable the purchase of these vital diagnostic tools at considerable savings to participating members, making the latest technology available at reduced cost.

According to Karen Phillips, director of Imaging Services for Premier, a member survey indicated considerable interest in such a group buy. Siemens is one of two Premier-contracted suppliers for medical imaging equipment.

About Siemens Medical Solutions
Siemens Medical Solutions, headquartered in Erlangen, Germany, and Malvern, PA, is one of the worlds largest suppliers to the healthcare industry. The company is known for bringing together innovative medical technologies, healthcare information systems, management consulting and support services to help customers achieve tangible, sustainable clinical and financial outcomes. From diagnostic imaging systems, to therapeutic equipment, to hearing instruments and beyond, Siemens innovations contribute to the health and well-being of people across the globe while improving operational efficiencies and optimizing workflow in hospitals, clinics, home health agencies, and doctors' offices. In the past five years, Siemens has strengthened its position as a complete healthcare solutions provider by investing in or acquiring businesses that support its solutions strategy including the acquisitions of ACUSON Corporation, Shared Medical Systems, Inc., and CTI Molecular Imaging, Inc., and an investment in Oxford Magnet Technology. The company also has developed strategic technology partnerships with VisEn Medical, Inc., Toshiba, Marconi, Esaoate, and Drger Medical. For more information, visit www.medical.siemens.com.

About Mallinckrodt Imaging
Mallinckrodt, a business unit of Tyco Healthcare, is an industry leader in imaging, providing a full line of contrast media and delivery systems, radiopharmaceuticals, and urology imaging systems for the diagnosis and treatment of disease in many imaging procedures. Headquartered in St. Louis, Mallinckrodt has been in the imaging business since 1913 developing and marketing products for hospitals, freestanding imaging centers and radiopharmacies. For more information, visit http://imaging.mallinckrodt.com/.

About MEDRAD, INC.
MEDRAD, INC. is a leading worldwide provider of medical devices and services that enable and enhance imaging procedures of the human body. MEDRADs products used in diagnostic imaging include a comprehensive line of vascular injection systems, magnetic resonance (MR) surface coils and patient care products, and equipment services. Total 2005 revenues were $411 million. MEDRAD is a 2003 recipient of the Malcom Baldrige National Quality Award, the top honor a U.S. company can receive for quality and business excellence. World headquarters is near Pittsburgh. MEDRAD is a U.S. affiliate of Schering AG, Germany (FSE:SCH; NYSE:SHR). For more information, visit, www.medrad.com/.

About Premier, Inc.
Premier, Inc., helps hospitals accelerate performance on both clinical outcomes and supply chain costs. Premier is a healthcare alliance entirely owned by more than 200 of the nations leading not-for-profit hospitals and healthcare systems. These organizations operate or are affiliated with nearly 1,500 hospitals and more than 38,500 other healthcare sites. Premier Purchasing Partners provides an array of services supporting health services delivery including group purchasing totaling more than $25 billion annually in supplies and equipment purchasing, as well as supply chain and clinical performance improvement services. Premier Healthcare Informatics offers performance measurement, benchmarking, and reporting products and advisory services supporting quality improvement. Premier Insurance Management Services helps hospitals manage insurance costs and improve risk management and claims capabilities. Headquartered in San Diego, CA, Premier has offices in Charlotte, NC, Chicago, and Washington, DC. For more information, visit www.premierinc.com.

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