<PAGE>
    As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 4, 2002.
                                                    Registration No. 333-_______

                                 UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                            -------------------------
                                    FORM S-8

             REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933


                                SULZER MEDICA LTD
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


          SWITZERLAND                                NOT APPLICABLE
(State or other jurisdiction of             (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
incorporation or organization)

         World Trade Center Zurich
              CH-8050 Zurich
                Switzerland                           NOT APPLICABLE
 (Address of Principal Executive Offices)               (Zip Code)


                 SULZER MEDICA 2001 LONG-TERM STOCK OPTION PLAN
                            (Full title of the plan)


                                SULZER MEDICA LTD
                        3 EAST GREENWAY PLAZA, SUITE 1600
                            HOUSTON, TEXAS 77046-0391
                            ATTENTION: DAVID S. WISE
                     (Name and address of agent for service)

                                  713/561-6300
          (Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

                                    Copy to:

                           FULBRIGHT & JAWORSKI L.L.P.
                            1301 MCKINNEY, SUITE 5100
                              HOUSTON, TEXAS 77010
                                  713/651-5151
                           ATTENTION: LAURA J. MCMAHON

                            -------------------------

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a
delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, check the following box.[ ]


                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
=========================================================================================================================
                                                           PROPOSED MAXIMUM          PROPOSED MAXIMUM         AMOUNT OF
    TITLE OF SECURITIES TO BE           AMOUNT TO         OFFERING PRICE PER        AGGREGATE OFFERING       REGISTRATION
            REGISTERED                BE REGISTERED            SHARE(1)                  PRICE(1)                 FEE
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                   <C>                  <C>                      <C>                       <C>
American Depositary Shares ("ADSs")
and each 1/10th of a registered
share, par value CHF 30 per
registered share, underlying
such ADSs                              2,500,000(2)              $4.425               $11,062,500.00           $2,644.00
==========================================================================================================================
</TABLE>

(1)      Estimated in accordance with Rule 457(c) and (h) solely for the purpose
         of calculating the registration fee on the basis of the average of the
         high and low prices of the ADSs as reported by the New York Stock
         Exchange on January 2, 2002.
(2)      Includes an indeterminable number of ADSs (and registered shares
         underlying such ADSs) issuable as a result of the anti-dilution
         provisions of the Sulzer Medica 2001 Long-Term Stock Option Plan.




<PAGE>


                                     PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3. INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

            a. The following documents are hereby incorporated by reference in
this Registration Statement:

            (i)    the description of American Depositary Shares of the
                   Registrant contained in the Registration Statement on Form
                   F-6, as amended (Registration No. 333-7086), and the
                   Registration Statement on Form 8-A of the Registrant, filed
                   with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 18, 1997,
                   including any amendment thereto or report filed for the
                   purpose of updating such description;

            (ii)   the Registrant's Report on Form 20-F for the year ended
                   December 31, 2000, filed with the Securities and Exchange
                   Commission on June 18, 2001;

            (iii)  the Registrant's Report on Form 6-K for the month of March
                   2001, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
                   March 26, 2001;

            (iv)   the Registrant's Report on Form 6-K for the month of March
                   2001, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
                   March 28, 2000;

            (v)    the Registrant's Report on Form 6-K for the month of May
                   2001, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
                   May 9, 2001;

            (vi)   the Registrant's Report on Form 6-K for the month of May
                   2001, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
                   May 23, 2001;

            (vii)  the Registrant's Report on Form 6-K for the month of June
                   2001, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
                   June 4, 2001;

            (viii) the Registrant's Report on Form 6-K for the month of July
                   2001, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
                   July 11, 2001;

            (ix)   the Registrant's Report on Form 6-K for the month of August
                   2001, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
                   August 16, 2001;

            (x)    the Registrant's Report on Form 6-K for the month of
                   September 2001, filed with the Securities and Exchange
                   Commission on September 20, 2001.

            (xi)   the Registrant's Report on Form 6-K for the month of November
                   2001, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
                   November 14, 2001.


                                      II-2
<PAGE>


            b. All documents filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a),
13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
subsequent to the date of the filing hereof and prior to the filing of a
post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered have been
sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed
to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to be a part
hereof from the date of filing of such documents. The Registrant may incorporate
such Reports on Form 6-K by identifying in such Reports on Form 6-K that they
are being incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement.

ITEM 4.     DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.

            Not applicable.

ITEM 5.     INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

            Not applicable.

ITEM 6.     INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

            Not applicable.

ITEM 7.     EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

            Not applicable.

ITEM 8.     EXHIBITS.

            3.1    --     Articles of Association (English translation included)
                          of the Registrant, as amended (incorporated by
                          reference to Exhibit 1 to Registrant's Annual Report
                          on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 1998).

            3.2    --     Organizational Regulations (English translation
                          included) of the Registrant, as amended (incorporated
                          by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to Amendment No. 2 to
                          Registrant's Registration Statement on Form F-1
                          (Registration No. 333-7068)).

            4.1    --     Specimen Registered Share of the Registrant
                          (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Amendment
                          No. 2 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on
                          Form F-1 (Registration No. 333-7068)).

            4.2    --     Form of Deposit Agreement among Sulzer Medica Ltd.,
                          Citibank, N.A., as Depositary, and holders from time
                          to time of American Depositary Receipts issued
                          thereunder, including the form of the American
                          Depositary Receipt attached thereto as Exhibit A
                          (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (A) to Amendment
                          No. 1 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on
                          Form F-6 (Registration No. 333-7086)).

           *4.3    --     Sulzer Medica 2001 Long-Term  Stock Option Plan.

          *23.1    --     Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers AG, independent
                          accountants.

          *24.1    --     Powers of Attorney (contained on page II-5).



-------------------------
* Filed herewith.


                                      II-3
<PAGE>


ITEM 9. UNDERTAKINGS.

        The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

                (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are
        being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

                        (i)   To include any prospectus required by Section
                10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
                "Securities Act");

                        (ii)  To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events
                arising after the effective date of this Registration Statement
                (or the most recent post-effective amendment hereof) which,
                individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change
                in the information set forth in this Registration Statement.
                Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in
                volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of
                securities offered would not exceed that which was registered)
                and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated
                maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of
                prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if,
                in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no
                more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price
                set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the
                effective registration statement; and

                        (iii) To include any material information with respect
                to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this
                Registration Statement or any material change to such
                information in this Registration Statement;

                Provided, however, that paragraphs (i) and (ii) do not apply if
        the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by
        those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the
        Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities
        Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), that are
        incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement.

                (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
        Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be
        a new registration statement relating to the securities offered herein,
        and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be
        the initial bona fide offering thereof.

                (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
        amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at
        the termination of the offering.

                The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes
of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the
Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Exchange Act that is incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement
shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities
offered herein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed
to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

                Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons
of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the
Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange
Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the
Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in
the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent,
submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such
indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities
Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.



                                      II-4
<PAGE>

                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in Houston, Texas, on the 2nd day of January, 2002.


                                       SULZER MEDICA LTD

                                       By: /s/ DAVID WISE
                                           ------------------------------------
                                           David Wise
                                           Authorized Representative

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each individual whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints Stephan Rietiker, President and Chief
Executive Officer of the Registrant, and David S. Wise, Group Vice President and
General Counsel of Sulzer Medica USA Inc., and each of them, his true and lawful
attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution,
for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any
and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration
Statement, and to file the same and all exhibits thereto, and all documents in
connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting said
attorney-in-fact and agent, and each of them, full power and authority to do and
perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and
about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do
in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and
agent or either of them, or their or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully
do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.

<Table>
<Caption>
                     Signature                                     Title                                     Date
                     ---------                                     -----                                     ----
<S>                                              <C>                                                    <C>

/s/ STEPHAN RIETIKER                               President and Chief Executive Officer                January 2, 2002
---------------------------------------------      (Principal Executive Officer)
Stephan Rietiker


 /s/ URS KAMBER                                    Chief Financial Officer                              January 2, 2002
---------------------------------------------
Urs Kamber

/s/ STEFFEN GAY                                    Director                                             January 2, 2002
---------------------------------------------
Steffen Gay

/s/ MAX LINK                                       Director                                             January 2, 2002
---------------------------------------------
Max Link

/s/ LARRY L. MATHIS                                Director                                             January 2, 2002
---------------------------------------------
Larry L. Mathis

/s/ DAVID WISE                                     Authorized Representative in the United States       January 2, 2002
---------------------------------------------
David Wise
</Table>



                                      II-5
<PAGE>


                                  EXHIBIT INDEX




EXHIBIT
NUMBER                        DESCRIPTION
-------                       -----------

   3.1    --     Articles of Association (English translation included)
                 of the Registrant, as amended (incorporated by
                 reference to Exhibit 1 to Registrant's Annual Report
                 on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 1998).

   3.2    --     Organizational Regulations (English translation
                 included) of the Registrant, as amended (incorporated
                 by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to Amendment No. 2 to
                 Registrant's Registration Statement on Form F-1
                 (Registration No. 333-7068)).

   4.1    --     Specimen Registered Share of the Registrant
                 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Amendment
                 No. 2 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on
                 Form F-1 (Registration No. 333-7068)).

   4.2    --     Form of Deposit Agreement among Sulzer Medica Ltd.,
                 Citibank, N.A., as Depositary, and holders from time
                 to time of American Depositary Receipts issued
                 thereunder, including the form of the American
                 Depositary Receipt attached thereto as Exhibit A
                 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (A) to Amendment
                 No. 1 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on
                 Form F-6 (Registration No. 333-7086)).

  *4.3    --     Sulzer Medica 2001 Long-Term  Stock Option Plan.

 *23.1    --     Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers AG, independent
                 accountants.

 *24.1    --     Powers of Attorney (contained on page II-5).



-------------------------
* Filed herewith.


                                      II-6
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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "SULZER MEDICA LTD", "cik": "0001041073", "assigned-sic": "3841", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-76280", "film-number": "2501938"}, "business-address": {"street1": "ZURCHERSTERSTRASSE 12", "city": "8401 WINTERTHUR SWIT", "state": "V8", "phone": "7135616300"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "SULTZER MEDICAL LTD", "street2": "ZURCHERSTRASSE 12", "city": "WINTERTHUR, SWITZERL"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "SULZER ORTHOPEDICS LTD", "date-changed": "19970616"}}
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 4, 2002.
                                                    Registration No. 333-_______

                                 UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                            -------------------------
                                    FORM S-8

             REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                                SULZER MEDICA LTD
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

          SWITZERLAND                                NOT APPLICABLE
(State or other jurisdiction of             (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
incorporation or organization)

         World Trade Center Zurich
              CH-8050 Zurich
                Switzerland                           NOT APPLICABLE
 (Address of Principal Executive Offices)               (Zip Code)

                 SULZER MEDICA 2001 LONG-TERM STOCK OPTION PLAN
                            (Full title of the plan)

                                SULZER MEDICA LTD
                        3 EAST GREENWAY PLAZA, SUITE 1600
                            HOUSTON, TEXAS 77046-0391
                            ATTENTION: DAVID S. WISE
                     (Name and address of agent for service)

                                  713/561-6300
          (Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

                                    Copy to:

                           FULBRIGHT & JAWORSKI L.L.P.
                            1301 MCKINNEY, SUITE 5100
                              HOUSTON, TEXAS 77010
                                  713/651-5151
                           ATTENTION: LAURA J. MCMAHON

                            -------------------------

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a
delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, check the following box.[ ]

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
=========================================================================================================================
                                                           PROPOSED MAXIMUM          PROPOSED MAXIMUM         AMOUNT OF
    TITLE OF SECURITIES TO BE           AMOUNT TO         OFFERING PRICE PER        AGGREGATE OFFERING       REGISTRATION
            REGISTERED                BE REGISTERED            SHARE(1)                  PRICE(1)                 FEE
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Depositary Shares ("ADSs")
and each 1/10th of a registered
share, par value CHF 30 per
registered share, underlying
such ADSs                              2,500,000(2)              $4.425               $11,062,500.00           $2,644.00
==========================================================================================================================
(1)      Estimated in accordance with Rule 457(c) and (h) solely for the purpose
         of calculating the registration fee on the basis of the average of the
         high and low prices of the ADSs as reported by the New York Stock
         Exchange on January 2, 2002.
(2)      Includes an indeterminable number of ADSs (and registered shares
         underlying such ADSs) issuable as a result of the anti-dilution
         provisions of the Sulzer Medica 2001 Long-Term Stock Option Plan.
PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3. INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

            a. The following documents are hereby incorporated by reference in
this Registration Statement:

            (i)    the description of American Depositary Shares of the
                   Registrant contained in the Registration Statement on Form
                   F-6, as amended (Registration No. 333-7086), and the
                   Registration Statement on Form 8-A of the Registrant, filed
                   with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 18, 1997,
                   including any amendment thereto or report filed for the
                   purpose of updating such description;

            (ii)   the Registrant's Report on Form 20-F for the year ended
                   December 31, 2000, filed with the Securities and Exchange
                   Commission on June 18, 2001;

            (iii)  the Registrant's Report on Form 6-K for the month of March
                   2001, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
                   March 26, 2001;

            (iv)   the Registrant's Report on Form 6-K for the month of March
                   2001, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
                   March 28, 2000;

            (v)    the Registrant's Report on Form 6-K for the month of May
                   2001, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
                   May 9, 2001;

            (vi)   the Registrant's Report on Form 6-K for the month of May
                   2001, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
                   May 23, 2001;

            (vii)  the Registrant's Report on Form 6-K for the month of June
                   2001, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
                   June 4, 2001;

            (viii) the Registrant's Report on Form 6-K for the month of July
                   2001, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
                   July 11, 2001;

            (ix)   the Registrant's Report on Form 6-K for the month of August
                   2001, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
                   August 16, 2001;

            (x)    the Registrant's Report on Form 6-K for the month of
                   September 2001, filed with the Securities and Exchange
                   Commission on September 20, 2001.

            (xi)   the Registrant's Report on Form 6-K for the month of November
                   2001, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
                   November 14, 2001.

                                      II-2
b. All documents filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a),
13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
subsequent to the date of the filing hereof and prior to the filing of a
post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered have been
sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed
to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to be a part
hereof from the date of filing of such documents. The Registrant may incorporate
such Reports on Form 6-K by identifying in such Reports on Form 6-K that they
are being incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement.

ITEM 4.     DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.

            Not applicable.

ITEM 5.     INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

            Not applicable.

ITEM 6.     INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

            Not applicable.

ITEM 7.     EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

            Not applicable.

ITEM 8.     EXHIBITS.

            3.1    --     Articles of Association (English translation included)
                          of the Registrant, as amended (incorporated by
                          reference to Exhibit 1 to Registrant's Annual Report
                          on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 1998).

            3.2    --     Organizational Regulations (English translation
                          included) of the Registrant, as amended (incorporated
                          by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to Amendment No. 2 to
                          Registrant's Registration Statement on Form F-1
                          (Registration No. 333-7068)).

            4.1    --     Specimen Registered Share of the Registrant
                          (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Amendment
                          No. 2 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on
                          Form F-1 (Registration No. 333-7068)).

            4.2    --     Form of Deposit Agreement among Sulzer Medica Ltd.,
                          Citibank, N.A., as Depositary, and holders from time
                          to time of American Depositary Receipts issued
                          thereunder, including the form of the American
                          Depositary Receipt attached thereto as Exhibit A
                          (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (A) to Amendment
                          No. 1 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on
                          Form F-6 (Registration No. 333-7086)).

           *4.3    --     Sulzer Medica 2001 Long-Term  Stock Option Plan.

          *23.1    --     Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers AG, independent
                          accountants.

          *24.1    --     Powers of Attorney (contained on page II-5).

-------------------------
* Filed herewith.

                                      II-3
ITEM 9. UNDERTAKINGS.

        The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

                (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are
        being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

                        (i)   To include any prospectus required by Section
                10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
                "Securities Act");

                        (ii)  To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events
                arising after the effective date of this Registration Statement
                (or the most recent post-effective amendment hereof) which,
                individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change
                in the information set forth in this Registration Statement.
                Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in
                volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of
                securities offered would not exceed that which was registered)
                and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated
                maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of
                prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if,
                in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no
                more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price
                set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the
                effective registration statement; and

                        (iii) To include any material information with respect
                to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this
                Registration Statement or any material change to such
                information in this Registration Statement;

                Provided, however, that paragraphs (i) and (ii) do not apply if
        the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by
        those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the
        Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities
        Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), that are
        incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement.

                (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
        Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be
        a new registration statement relating to the securities offered herein,
        and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be
        the initial bona fide offering thereof.

                (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
        amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at
        the termination of the offering.

                The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes
of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the
Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Exchange Act that is incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement
shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities
offered herein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed
to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

                Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons
of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the
Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange
Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the
Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in
the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent,
submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such
indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities
Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

                                      II-4
SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in Houston, Texas, on the 2nd day of January, 2002.

                                       SULZER MEDICA LTD

                                       By: /s/ DAVID WISE
                                           ------------------------------------
                                           David Wise
                                           Authorized Representative

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each individual whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints Stephan Rietiker, President and Chief
Executive Officer of the Registrant, and David S. Wise, Group Vice President and
General Counsel of Sulzer Medica USA Inc., and each of them, his true and lawful
attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution,
for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any
and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration
Statement, and to file the same and all exhibits thereto, and all documents in
connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting said
attorney-in-fact and agent, and each of them, full power and authority to do and
perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and
about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do
in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and
agent or either of them, or their or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully
do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature                                     Title                                     Date
                     ---------                                     -----                                     ----
/s/ STEPHAN RIETIKER                               President and Chief Executive Officer                January 2, 2002
---------------------------------------------      (Principal Executive Officer)
Stephan Rietiker

 /s/ URS KAMBER                                    Chief Financial Officer                              January 2, 2002
---------------------------------------------
Urs Kamber

/s/ STEFFEN GAY                                    Director                                             January 2, 2002
---------------------------------------------
Steffen Gay

/s/ MAX LINK                                       Director                                             January 2, 2002
---------------------------------------------
Max Link

/s/ LARRY L. MATHIS                                Director                                             January 2, 2002
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Larry L. Mathis

/s/ DAVID WISE                                     Authorized Representative in the United States       January 2, 2002
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David Wise
II-5
EXHIBIT INDEX

EXHIBIT
NUMBER                        DESCRIPTION
-------                       -----------

   3.1    --     Articles of Association (English translation included)
                 of the Registrant, as amended (incorporated by
                 reference to Exhibit 1 to Registrant's Annual Report
                 on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 1998).

   3.2    --     Organizational Regulations (English translation
                 included) of the Registrant, as amended (incorporated
                 by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to Amendment No. 2 to
                 Registrant's Registration Statement on Form F-1
                 (Registration No. 333-7068)).

   4.1    --     Specimen Registered Share of the Registrant
                 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Amendment
                 No. 2 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on
                 Form F-1 (Registration No. 333-7068)).

   4.2    --     Form of Deposit Agreement among Sulzer Medica Ltd.,
                 Citibank, N.A., as Depositary, and holders from time
                 to time of American Depositary Receipts issued
                 thereunder, including the form of the American
                 Depositary Receipt attached thereto as Exhibit A
                 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (A) to Amendment
                 No. 1 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on
                 Form F-6 (Registration No. 333-7086)).

  *4.3    --     Sulzer Medica 2001 Long-Term  Stock Option Plan.

 *23.1    --     Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers AG, independent
                 accountants.

 *24.1    --     Powers of Attorney (contained on page II-5).

-------------------------
* Filed herewith.

                                      II-6