<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0001058083 <NAME> IMS HEALTH <MULTIPLIER> 1000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998 <CASH> 312,245 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 245,947 <ALLOWANCES> 6,215 <INVENTORY> 32,005 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 631,248 <PP&E> 357,018 <DEPRECIATION> 179,277 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,700,686 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 562,757 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 1,677 <OTHER-SE> 799,926 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,700,686 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 795,070 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 785,501 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 747 <INCOME-PRETAX> 115,185 <INCOME-TAX> 49,596 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 65,589 <DISCONTINUED> 42,093 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 107,682 <EPS-PRIMARY> .66 <EPS-DILUTED> .64