Exhibit 12 Abbott Laboratories Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges (Unaudited) (dollars in millions except ratios) Six Months Ended June 30, 1999 ------------- Net Earnings ........................................................ $1,309 Add (deduct): Taxes on earnings .............................................. 509 Minority interest .............................................. 3 ------ Net Earnings as adjusted ............................................ $1,821 ------ Fixed Charges: Interest on long-term and short-term debt ...................... 77 Capitalized interest cost ...................................... 2 Rental expense representative of an interest factor ............ 19 ------ Total Fixed Charges ................................................. 98 ------ Total adjusted earnings available for payment of fixed charges ...... $1,919 ------ ------ Ratio of earnings to fixed charges .................................. 19.6 ------ ------ NOTE: For the purpose of calculating this ratio, (i) earnings have been calculated by adjusting net earnings for taxes on earnings; interest expense; capitalized interest cost, net of amortization; minority interest; and the portion of rentals representative of the interest factor, (ii) Abbott considers one-third of rental expense to be the amount representing return on capital, and (iii) fixed charges comprise total interest expense, including capitalized interest and such portion of rentals.