48737
12/98
Prospectus Supplement
dated December 7, 1998 to:
PUTNAM HEALTH SCIENCES TRUST (THE "FUND")
Prospectus dated December 30, 1997
The third paragraph under the heading "How the fund is managed"
is replaced with the following:
The following officers of Putnam Investment Management, Inc.
("Putnam Management") have had primary responsibility for the day-
to-day management of the fund's portfolio since the years stated
below:
Business experience
Officer Year (at least 5 years)
- ------------ ----- -------------------------
David G. Carlson 1997 Employed as an
investment
Senior Vice President professional by
Putnam Management
. since 1990.
Richard B. England 1997 Employed as an
investment
Senior Vice President professional by
Putnam Management
since 1992.
Margery C. Parker 1998 Employed as an
investment
Senior Vice President professional by
Putnam Management
since 1997. Prior to December
1997, Ms. Parker was a Vice
President and Portfolio
Manager at Keystone
Investments.
