(GLOBE NEWSWIRE via COMTEX) --Company Marks its Eleventh Consecutive Year on the North American Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI)

DUBLIN - September 13, 2018 - Medtronic plc (NYSE:MDT) was recognized today as one of the world's leading companies for sustainability with its ranking on the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index (DJSI North America) for the eleventh consecutive year. DJSI North America analyzes companies on a variety of sustainability criteria, including economic performance, environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and corporate governance. This adds to the recognition Medtronic received earlier this year through its continued inclusion in the FTSE4Good Index Series.

Medtronic is committed to global corporate citizenship, centered on creating value and working responsibly in all facets where our business intersects with society, and this commitment aligns with the company's long-term growth strategies of therapy innovation, globalization, and economic value. The company focuses on issues identified as most material to long-term success, including access to healthcare, product quality and patient safety, ethical business practices, responsible supply management, employee engagement and development, human rights, and environmental stewardship.

"We believe our focus on environmental, social and governance (ESG) areas is both critical to our sustained business performance and consistent with the Medtronic mission," said Omar Ishrak, Medtronic chairman and chief executive officer. "Medtronic's inclusion in the DJSI North America Index is a reflection of our employees' efforts to improve clinical outcomes, enhance quality, expand access to care, drive innovation, and increase efficiency within healthcare systems around the world."

An example of Medtronic's commitment to ESG areas is our focus on removing barriers to healthcare access and reducing health inequality in emerging markets, initiatives that require an understanding of local context and priorities. Medtronic Labs is our response to this challenge. Launched in FY17, it is an evolution of our Global Health Initiative and seeks to deliver financially sustainable businesses structured for impact and scale. Medtronic Labs draws on the expertise and knowledge of our employees to develop locally appropriate business models and provide ambitious ideas for expanding healthcare access. One of the Medtronic Labs programs, Medtronic Labs Empower Health(TM), is a novel hypertension management model of care focused on reaching underserved patients in East and West Africa. The goal of Empower Health is to reduce the burden and improve the efficiency of managing hypertension for both patients and clinicians. The Empower Health model consists of a mobile tablet, an automated blood pressure machine, and a novel proprietary software application combined in a unique platform to allow for longitudinal management of an enrolled cohort of patients. Patients can access regular blood pressure checks at community-based locations where they receive real-time feedback on their blood pressure measurement. On a mobile application, clinicians can view patient data, provide the patient with feedback on their condition via SMS, and write electronic prescriptions - accessible through participating pharmacies.

Medtronic also continues to be recognized by the FTSE4Good Index and Corporate Responsibility Magazine's 100 Best Corporate Citizens list, both announced earlier this year. Companies in the FTSE4Good Index Series have met stringent environmental, social and governance criteria, and are positioned to capitalize on the benefits of responsible business practices. More information can be found at https://www.ftse.com/products/indices/FTSE4Good.

For information about Medtronic's comprehensive sustainability efforts, please visit http://www.medtronic.com/us-en/about/citizenship.html and access our Integrated Performance Report.

The Dow Jones Sustainability Indices were launched in 1999 as the first global sustainability benchmarks. More information about the DJSI can be found at http://www.sustainability-indices.com.

About Medtronic
Medtronic plc (www.medtronic.com), headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, is among the world's largest medical technology, services and solutions companies - alleviating pain, restoring health and extending life for millions of people around the world. Medtronic employs more than 86,000 people worldwide, serving physicians, hospitals and patients in more than 150 countries. The company is focused on collaborating with stakeholders around the world to take healthcare Further, Together.

Any forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties such as those described in Medtronic's periodic reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results may differ materially from anticipated results.

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Contacts:
Fernando Vivanco
Public Relations
+1-763-505-3780

Ryan Weispfenning
Investor Relations
+1-763-505-4626

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Source: Medtronic plc via Globenewswire