<ARTICLE>                                                                      5
<LEGEND>
(Replace this text with legend, if applicable)
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                                                                 0000826682
<NAME>                                Meridian Healthcare Growth and Income Fund
<MULTIPLIER>                                                                   1
<CURRENCY>                                                          U.S. DOLLARS


                                                      
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                              6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                    DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                                                        JAN-1-2000
<PERIOD-END>                                                         JUN-30-2000
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                                                1
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<SECURITIES>                                                                   0
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<ALLOWANCES>                                                                   0
<INVENTORY>                                                                    0
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<PP&E>                                                                         0
<DEPRECIATION>                                                                 0
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<PREFERRED>                                                                    0
<COMMON>                                                                       0
<OTHER-SE>                                                                     0
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<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                               0
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<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                        1,404,000
<INCOME-TAX>                                                                   0
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<DISCONTINUED>                                                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                                0
<CHANGES>                                                                      0
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<EPS-BASIC>                                                                0.900
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                              0.000