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��«����Ƶ has a long-standing commitment to supporting programs aimed at increasing the understanding of scientific, clinical and healthcare issues that improve patient care. We partner with a broad range of organizations to help address today's healthcare challenges. We want to do our part to ensure that patients, and the healthcare providers who treat them, receive the information and support they need.

In the interest of transparency, we began voluntarily disclosing grants and donations to U.S. medical organizations beginning with the third quarter of 2008. ��«����Ƶ will continue to report these payments on a quarterly basis.

This report discloses charitable donations, patient support, educational grants, and fellowships and scholarships. Recipients include medical and other healthcare professional organizations, patient organizations, academic institutions, hospitals, medical education companies and other scientific associations.

In addition, support from the non-profit, philanthropic ��«����Ƶ Fund is aggregated and reported in an annual Internal Revenue Service 990-PF filing. This information is available on the Web site��. ��«����Ƶ continues to evaluate other ways to enhance transparency.

The following attached reports include direct payments more than $200 from ��«����Ƶ's U.S. and Puerto Rico businesses. The former St. Jude Medical business is included beginning in 2018. The reports may be updated from time to time.

��«����Ƶ supports the goals of transparency in relationships with healthcare organizations ("HCOs"). ��«����Ƶ believes that interactions with HCOs bring value to patient care. Demonstrating the integrity of our relationships with HCOs through transparency and disclosure is an important part of these relationships.

��«����Ƶ is proud to be a Corporate Member of MedTech Europe. The MedTech Europe Code of Ethical Business Practices provides for the support of medical education through Educational Grants made to HCOs. When made to HCOs located in the MedTech Europe Geographic Area by an applicable ��«����Ƶ business, these grants are disclosed in accordance with the Disclosure Guidelines portion of the Code. The Code also requires the disclosure of funding provided to professional conference organizers (“PCOs”) for the advancement of genuine educational purposes, when acting independently of any HCO.

��«����Ƶ's reported data can be viewed on the MedTech Europe platform here:��.

The Methodological Note below is intended to serve as supporting documentation for the 2017 ��«����Ƶ HCO/PCO disclosure pursuant to the MedTech Europe Code of Ethical Business Practices. Reporting includes ��«����Ƶ’s device and diagnostic businesses worldwide, including the recent St. Jude Medical and Alere acquisitions. Any country-specific considerations are identified in the Methodological Note.

To receive a copy of the Methodological Note, please email��TransparencyReporting@��«����Ƶ.com.