9.04.2005 ET

(CSRwire) MELVILLE, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 4, 2005--As the toll from Hurricane Katrina continues to be assessed, Henry Schein, Inc. (NASDAQ: HSIC), the largest distributor of healthcare products and services to office-based practitioners in the combined North American and European markets, is shipping much needed emergency medical supplies to the affected region, and has readied a significant additional quantity of products for expedited shipment to Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida and Texas. More than six tons of essential medical and dental supplies have been assembled for shipment, and the Company is working closely with state and local authorities, as well as national relief agencies to expedite delivery of these products to help ensure the safe and effective treatment of Gulf Coast residents affected by the disaster.

"As soon as we had reached out to our Teams Schein Members in the affected areas, our next priority was to use our logistical capabilities and disaster relief experience to help our customers and the hundreds of thousands of Americans affected by this catastrophe," said Stanley M. Bergman, Chairman and CEO of Henry Schein. "To this end, we have activated our disaster relief hotline to assist our dental, medical and veterinary customers with whatever they might require to reestablish the operation of their practices, and we have earmarked pallets of products for shipment wherever they are needed."

Aside from the Company's donation efforts, Henry Schein is working closely with federal and state authorities to supply first responder kits, which contain basic first aid items, for medical workers responding to the relief efforts. The Company already has shipped various vaccines to inoculate survivors of the disaster through the Vaccines for Children program. In addition, based on new immunization recommendations issued by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), tetanus and diphtheria vaccine shipments have been readied by the Company to send to affected areas. Henry Schein's warehouses, strategically located throughout the country, are remaining on call during the Labor Day holiday weekend to respond to requests and ship products as required.

Henry Schein's toll-free disaster relief hotline for dentists, physicians and veterinarians who have operational, logistical or financial issues is 800-999-9729. The hotline is operational from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Central Time. In addition, Henry Schein is working closely with local, state and national medical and dental organizations to facilitate the reopening of healthcare facilities in affected areas. The Company also has established a Hurricane Katrina disaster relief fund where all contributions made by Team Schein Members will be matched by Henry Schein.

About Henry Schein, Inc.

Henry Schein, a Fortune 500(R) company, is recognized for its excellent customer service and highly competitive prices. The Company's four business groups - Dental, Medical, International and Technology - serve more than 475,000 customers worldwide, including dental practices and laboratories, physician practices and veterinary clinics, as well as government and other institutions. The Company's sales reached a record $4.1 billion in 2004. The Company operates through a centralized and automated distribution network, which provides customers in more than 125 countries with a comprehensive selection of over 160,000 national and Henry Schein private-brand products.

Henry Schein also offers a wide range of innovative value-added practice solutions, including such leading practice management software systems as DENTRIX(R) and Easy Dental(R) for dental practices, and AVImark(R) for veterinary clinics, which are installed in over 50,000 practices; and ArubA(R), Henry Schein's electronic catalog and ordering system.

Headquartered in Melville, N.Y., Henry Schein employs nearly 11,000 people in 19 countries. For more information, visit the Henry Schein Web site at www.henryschein.com

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