Exhibit 12


                            COLUMBIA/HCA HEALTHCARE CORPORATION
                     COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
               For the quarters and six months ended June 30, 1994 and 1993
                                   (Dollars in millions)



                                                          Quarter           Six Months
                                                       1994     1993      1994     1993

Earnings:

Income from continuing operations
                                                                  
  before minority interests and income taxes ....    $  343   $  273    $  579   $  609

Fixed charges, exclusive of capitalized 
  interest ......................................        74      102       154      205

                                                     $  417   $  375    $  733   $  814




Fixed Charges:

Interest charged to expense .....................    $   56   $   85    $  120   $  170

One-third of rent expense and amortization 
  of deferred loan costs (a) ....................        18       17        34       35

Fixed charges, exclusive of capitalized 
  interest ......................................        74      102       154      205

Capitalized interest ............................         3        4         6        6

                                                     $   77   $  106    $  160   $  211


Ratio of earnings to fixed charges ..............      5.39     3.56      4.58     3.86




                       

(a) One-third of rent expense is considered representative of the underlying interest.