Exhibit 32.1

                            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 Abbott Laboratories (the
"Company") on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2003 as filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"), I, Miles
D. White, 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.



/s/ Miles D. White
----------------------------
Miles D. White
Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer
August 12, 2003


A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been
provided to Abbott Laboratories and will be retained by Abbott Laboratories and
furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.