May 11, 1997

Article on Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corp, world's largest health care company; says chief executive Richard L Scott has built company with policy of aggressively acquiring hospitals, strictly controlling costs and fiercely competing with established rivals, many of which are not-for-profit operations; holds company's formula has helped it grow in a decade from nothing to $20 billion in revenues, with roughly 350 hospitals, 550 home-health-care offices and scores of other medical businesses in 38 states; opposition to Columbia's bare-knuckled competitive tactics and several Federal inquiries into its financial practices detailed; tables; photos (L)

The Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corporation has become the world's largest health care company by aggressively competing in an industry dominated by institutions named for saints and samaritans. But now its practices have inspired a backlash. Money and Business, Section 3.

Visible withering of body and power of Zaire's cancer-stricken dictator Mobutu Sese Seko described; photos; obscured by drama of Laurent Kabila's advance through Zaire is larger African struggle between old dictator mode and democracy in its infancy; governments where competitive elections have been held are more numerous than dictatorships for first time in history, but leaders who bar the way to peaceful opposition are still clinging to power across continent, from tiny Togo to Nigeria, Cameroon and Kenya (S)

F.Y.I. 2 MAKING IT WORK 3 Thomas K. Duane and Antonio Pagan -- gay Manhattan Democrats -- would seem to be natural allies. Not true.

Chicago Bulls defeat Atlanta Hawks, 100-80, to take 2-1 lead in playoff series; photo (M)