Growing corporate sickness seems to be a global phenomenon, at least in the world's market-oriented economies. But the causes of sickness may differ as between Third World countries like India and the developed Western economies. After reviewing Western and Indian work on sickness, the paper presents data on a questionnaire and interviews based study of the major causes of sickness in India, and the mechanisms available to the financial institutions to prevent sickness. The respondents were 36 rehabilitation officers of various Indian banks and financial institutions. A multi-pronged model for preventing sickness is proposed.