EXHIBIT 99.1

                           CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
                            18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
                             AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
                 SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

     In connection with the Quarterly Report of HCA Inc. (the "Company") on Form
10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2003 as filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"), I, Jack O. Bovender,
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify,
pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

          1. The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or
     15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

          2. The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all
     material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the
     Company.

                                        By:    /s/ JACK O. BOVENDER, JR.
                                           -------------------------------------
                                                   Jack O. Bovender, Jr.
                                              Chairman of the Board and Chief
                                                     Executive Officer
                                                       May 13, 2003