Exhibit 12


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



                                                          Quarter          Nine Months
                                                       1994     1993      1994     1993

Earnings:

Income from continuing operations
                                                               
  before minority interests and income taxes ....    $  293   $   72    $  872   $  681

Fixed charges, exclusive of capitalized 
  interest ......................................        80       96       234      301

                                                     $  373   $  168    $1,106   $  982




Fixed Charges:

Interest charged to expense .....................    $   62   $   81    $  182   $  251

One-third of rent expense and amortization 
  of deferred loan costs (a) ....................        18       15        52       50

Fixed charges, exclusive of capitalized 
  interest ......................................        80       96       234      301

Capitalized interest ............................         3        2         9        8

                                                     $   83   $   98    $  243   $  309


Ratio of earnings to fixed charges ..............      4.49     1.71      4.55     3.18




                       

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