SUPPLEMENT NO. 9 DATED MAY 12, 1997
                      TO PROSPECTUS DATED SEPTEMBER 3, 1996
          RELATING TO $125,000,000 PRINCIPAL AMOUNT 5 5/8% CONVERTIBLE
                         SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2006 AND
                               3,654,971 SHARES OF
                          RENAL TREATMENT CENTERS, INC.
                          COMMON STOCK, $.01 PAR VALUE


         All capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the
meanings prescribed in the Prospectus dated September 3, 1996, as supplemented
by Supplement No. 1 dated December 2, 1996, Supplement No. 2 dated December 9,
1996, Supplement No. 3 dated January 6, 1997, Supplement No. 4 dated January 13,
1997, Supplement No. 5 dated February 18, 1997, Supplement No. 6 dated March 17,
1997, Supplement No. 7 dated April 30, 1997 and Supplement No. 8 dated May 9,
1997, forming a part of Form S-3 Registration Statement No. 333-10839.

         The purpose of this supplement is to provide additional information
regarding the Selling Securityholders. The Selling Securityholders in the table
below are identified by this supplement. The Notes beneficially owned by these
Selling Securityholders were previously listed in the Prospectus under the names
of the nominee or Depository Trust Company participant holding the Notes for the
benefit of the Selling Securityholders or the persons from whom the Selling
Securityholders purchased the Notes. The table has been prepared based upon
information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of the Selling
Securityholders identified therein.




                                           Principal Amount of                       Number of                    
                                             of Notes Benefi-                        Conversion                   
                                               cially Owned         Percentage         Shares         Percentage  
                                                 That May            of Notes        That May      of Common Stock
Name                                             Be Sold           Outstanding       Be Sold(1)     Outstanding(2)
- ----                                             -------           -----------       ----------     --------------

                                                                                                   
The TCW Group, Inc., on behalf of            $  250,000                 *              7,309              *       
the Massachusetts Mutual Life 
Insurance Company
The TCW Group, Inc., on behalf of            $   80,000                 *              2,339              *       
the Medical Malpractice Insurance 
Group



- ----------
* Less than 1%.

(1)  Assumes conversion of the full amount of Notes held by such holder at the
     current conversion rate of $34.20 in principal amount of Notes per share of
     Common Stock. Under the terms of the Indenture, fractional shares will not
     be issued upon conversion of the Notes; cash will be paid in lieu of
     fractional shares, if any.

(2)  Computed in accordance with Rule 13d-3(d)(i) promulgated under the Exchange
     Act based upon the 24,617,217 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of
     March 14, 1997, treating as outstanding the number of Conversion Shares
     shown as being issuable upon the assumed conversion by the named holder of
     the full amount of such holder's Notes but not assuming the conversion of
     the Notes of any other holders.

         Other than their ownership of the Company's securities, none of the
foregoing Selling Securityholders has had any material relationship with the
Company within the past three years.