DUBLIN, OH – Cardinal Health said last month it would cut as many as 1,300 jobs as it prepares to spin off its Clinical and Medical Products divisions into the CareFusion Corporation.

Company officials said the global workforce would be reduced by approximately 800 over six months, while another 500 positions would be eliminated through normal attrition or not filling open roles. They blamed the sour global economy for the cuts.

“While many companies have taken similar actions to respond to the current economic realities, these are very difficult decisions because of their effect on our employees and their families,” said R. Kerry Clark, Cardinal Health’s chairman and CEO. “However, these measures are necessary to help offset current economic conditions and will ultimately strengthen our businesses for the longer-term.”

The company, based in Dublin, Ohio, and with a global workforce of roughly 40,000 people, expects to take a restructuring charge of about $33 million for the remainder of fiscal 2009.