Partnership for Prescription Assistance Unites America's Pharmaceutical
         Companies, Doctors, Patient Advocates and Community Groups;

   Substantial National Advertising and Awareness Program in All 50 States;

   Patients Can Call Toll-Free at 1-888-4PPA-NOW (1-888-477-2669) or Visit
                                  pparx.org

ABBOTT PARK, Ill., April 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Abbott today announced its participation in the Partnership for Prescription Assistance, the largest-ever private-sector program to help patients who lack prescription drug coverage get access to the medicines they need, joining a national coalition of pharmaceutical companies, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, other health care providers, patient advocates and community leaders.

"Abbott has always been committed to helping patients gain access to the medicines they need, both through our own company-sponsored patient assistance programs and through programs provided in partnership with other pharmaceutical companies," said Miles D. White, chairman and chief executive officer, Abbott, and immediate past chairman of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA). "Now the Partnership for Prescription Assistance brings together industry and the health care and patient advocacy communities to give patients unprecedented access to our medications."

The Partnership for Prescription Assistance offers a single point of access to more than 275 public and private patient assistance programs, including more then 150 programs offered by pharmaceutical companies. Patients will also receive information on government programs for which they may qualify, such as Medicare, Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Programs. As the only resource that brings together nearly all existing patient assistance programs, the Partnership for Prescription Assistance provides a central navigation system that helps patients get access to needed medicines.

"During the past year, Abbott, PhRMA member companies and our partners across the spectrum of health care have been working hard to address the issue of access to medications," said White. "For example, Rx for Illinois, one of the pilot access programs, was highly successful. Nearly half-a-million people inquired about the program and more than 50 percent qualified for discounted or free medicines. The Partnership for Prescription Assistance will give us an opportunity to assist millions of patients in Illinois and across the country."

Over the next few months, Rx for Illinois as well as other pilot programs will be folded into the Partnership for Prescription Assistance. Right now, patients can contact either the Partnership for Prescription Assistance or Rx for Illinois by phone (1-877-793-6745) or by visiting http://www.rxforillinois.org .

To find out if they may qualify for one or more programs, patients can visit the user-friendly Web site or call toll-free to speak with a trained specialist who can provide application assistance in English, Spanish and approximately 150 other languages.

The Partnership for Prescription Assistance is launching a substantial awareness-raising initiative aimed at encouraging as many eligible patients as possible to apply for public and private patient assistance programs.

Advertising starts today on network and cable television and in national newspapers. The ads encourage people who don't have prescription drug coverage and need help paying for their medicines to call toll-free at 1-888- 4PPA-NOW or visit http://www.pparx.org to find out if they may be eligible for assistance. The Partnership for Prescription Assistance is also working with local community leaders in all 50 states to encourage patients to enroll.

More than 50 national organizations including the American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Physician Assistants, American College of Emergency Physicians, the NAACP, National Alliance for Hispanic Health, National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, National Association of Chain Drug Stores, National Medical Association, National Urban League, and United Way of America, as well as hundreds of state and local organizations, are working with America's pharmaceutical companies to spread the word about the program.

Patients who need help paying for their prescription medicines should call toll-free at 1-888-4PPA-NOW (1-888-477-2669) or visit http://www.pparx.org .

Abbott's Commitment to Access

Abbott is committed to improving access for patients -- access to critical medications, testing and quality health care. Abbott's initiatives span the globe, from patient assistance programs in the United States, to large-scale donations of HIV tests to help stop the spread of HIV, to partnerships designed to improve health care infrastructure in developing nations. In 2004, nearly 360,000 people received free or discounted drugs through Abbott's own patient assistance programs in the United States, valued at nearly $242 million.

Abbott is a global, broad-based health care company devoted to the discovery, development, manufacture and marketing of pharmaceuticals and medical products, including nutritionals, devices and diagnostics. Abbott employs more than 60,000 people and markets its products in more than 130 countries.

Abbott's news release and other information are available on the company's Web site at http://www.abbott.com .

SOURCE  Abbott
    -0-                             04/05/2005
    /CONTACT: Media, Melissa Brotz, +1-847-935-3456, or, Jennifer Smoter,
+1-847-935-8865, both of Abbott/
    /Company News On-Call:  http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/110328.html /
    /Web site:  http://www.abbott.com
                http://www.pparx.org
                http://www.rxforillinois.org /
    (ABT)

CO:  Abbott
ST:  Illinois
IN:  MTC HEA
SU:

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2530 04/05/2005 07:00 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com