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 HCA Inc. (the "Company") on Form
10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2004, as filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"), each of the undersigned
certifies, 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.

                                          By:   /s/ JACK O. BOVENDER, JR.
                                            ------------------------------------
                                                   Jack O. Bovender, Jr.
                                                 Chairman of the Board and
                                                  Chief Executive Officer

August 6, 2004

                                          By:     /s/ R. MILTON JOHNSON
                                            ------------------------------------
                                                     R. Milton Johnson
                                             Executive Vice President and Chief
                                                     Financial Officer

August 6, 2004