<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000709140
<NAME> MERRILL LYNCH HEALTHCARE FUND, INC.
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 002
<NAME> CLASS B
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> APR-30-2000
<PERIOD-START> MAY-01-1999
<PERIOD-END> APR-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 505144768
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 588008955
<RECEIVABLES> 4614585
<ASSETS-OTHER> 1388985
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 594012525
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 1298650
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 2033990
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 3332640
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 394673805
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 49314996
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 56353886
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 113166030
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 82840050
<NET-ASSETS> 273529692
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 2428840
<INTEREST-INCOME> 1761649
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (9758658)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> (5568169)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 119128130
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 12838335
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 126398296
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (9877905)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 12112815
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (21049173)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 1897468
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 83194266
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 17686783
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 5267282
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 9758658
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 257365768
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 4.54
<PER-SHARE-NII> (.07)
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 1.26
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (.18)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 5.55
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 2.28
</TABLE>