<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0001058083 <NAME> IMS HEALTH <MULTIPLIER> 1000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1998 <CASH> 702,550 <SECURITIES> 3,700 <RECEIVABLES> 261,267 <ALLOWANCES> 4,590 <INVENTORY> 30,977 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 1,036,495 <PP&E> 357,514 <DEPRECIATION> 182,210 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,009,868 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 486,889 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 1,671 <OTHER-SE> 1,181,287 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 2,009,868 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 511,464 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 506,648 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 412 <INCOME-PRETAX> 77,491 <INCOME-TAX> 36,857 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 40,634 <DISCONTINUED> 42,093 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 82,727 <EPS-PRIMARY> .51 <EPS-DILUTED> .49