<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>                                                           9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                 DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                                                     JAN-1-2000
<PERIOD-END>                                                      SEP-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
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                     50,869,000
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<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                       0
<PREFERRED>                                                                 0
<COMMON>                                                                    0
<OTHER-SE>                                                                  0
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<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                            0
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<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                     2,152,000
<INCOME-TAX>                                                                0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                 2,152,000
<DISCONTINUED>                                                              0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                             0
<CHANGES>                                                                   0
<NET-INCOME>                                                        2,152,000
<EPS-BASIC>                                                             1.380
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                           0.000