NEWS ADVISORY

FOR INFORMATION
APRIL 4, 2008

Members to realize up to 30% savings with new Medbuy contracts for office products

Medbuy Members recently re-awarded three contracts to Corporate Express Canada for stationery products, bond paper and toner that will result in tremendous savings to Member hospitals over the next five years.

Medbuy hospital and healthcare organizations will save an average of up to 30% across the three agreements as compared to pricing from the previous contracts. The new stationery contract alone contains 10,428 line items (or products) - the largest ever Medbuy initiative by number of SKUs - and represents up to a 24% price decrease.

"This contract is the result of an extremely rigorous and diligent process and offers real cost benefits to our Member organizations," says Bekhe Purkis, Medbuy Contracting Director, Med/Surg. "This is a win-win for Members because we have achieved a broad product offering at substantially lower cost."

"Suppliers such as Corporate Express are key partners in helping drive continuing value for hospitals and healthcare organizations," adds Purkis.

Office products available in these contracts - such as pens, staplers, copier paper, ink cartridges and sticky notes - may not seem like conventional healthcare supplies, but are essential to a hospital's record keeping and administrative operations. In 2006 alone, Medbuy's Members purchased approximately $11 million from the existing contract for office supplies. In addition to the invoice savings resulting from the renewed contracts, Medbuy Members will also receive standard rebates each time their facilities make a purchase from the contracts.

"We are thrilled that Medbuy Members have chosen once again to partner with us. This has been a long-standing and mutually beneficial relationship built on trust and procurement best practices. Sophisticated customers such as Medbuy fully understand and leverage the unique value offering of Corporate Express resulting in a win-win relationship for the Medbuy Membership," says Michael Zahra, President of Corporate Express Canada.

The new stationery, bond paper and toner contracts came into effect May 1, 2008.

For further information, please contact Leslie McGill, Chief Business Development Officer by phone at 519. 652.1688 ext. 126 or e-mail at lmcgill@medbuy.ca.