<PAGE>
     As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 2, 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)


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

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


                 SULZER MEDICA 2002 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE 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. [X]

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

<Table>
<Caption>
                                                             PROPOSED MAXIMUM
                                            AMOUNT TO         OFFERING PRICE          PROPOSED MAXIMUM                AMOUNT OF
TITLE OF SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED      BE REGISTERED        PER SHARE(1)       AGGREGATE OFFERING PRICE(1)     REGISTRATION FEE
------------------------------------      -------------      ----------------     ---------------------------     ----------------
<S>                                       <C>                <C>                  <C>                             <C>
American Depositary Shares ("ADSs")         250,000(2)           $9.275                 $2,318,750.00                  $214.00
and each 1/10th of a registered share,
par value CHF 30 per registered share,
underlying such ADSs
</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 April 1, 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 2002 Employee Stock Purchase 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; and

                  (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 2002 Employee Stock Purchase 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 29th day of March, 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                    March 29, 2002
-------------------------------------            (Principal Executive Officer)
Stephan Rietiker

/s/ URS KAMBER                                   Chief Financial Officer                                  March 29, 2002
-------------------------------------
Urs Kamber

/s/ STEFFEN GAY                                  Director                                                 March 29, 2002
-------------------------------------
Steffen Gay

/s/ MAX LINK                                     Director                                                 March 29, 2002
-------------------------------------
Max Link

/s/ LARRY L. MATHIS                              Director                                                 March 29, 2002
-------------------------------------
Larry L. Mathis

/s/ DAVID WISE                                   Authorized Representative in the United States           March 29, 2002
-------------------------------------
David Wise
</Table>



                                      II-5
<PAGE>



                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


<Table>
<Caption>
EXHIBIT
NUMBER                                  DESCRIPTION
-------                                 -----------
<S>               <C>
     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 2002 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

   *23.1          Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers AG, independent accountants.

   *24.1          Powers of Attorney (contained on page II-5).
</Table>


----------

*Filed herewith


                                      II-6
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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 2, 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 incorporation or          (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
               organization)

         World Trade Center Zurich
              CH-8050 Zurich
                Switzerland                                         NOT APPLICABLE
 (Address of Principal Executive Offices)                             (Zip Code)
SULZER MEDICA 2002 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE 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. [X]

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
PROPOSED MAXIMUM
                                            AMOUNT TO         OFFERING PRICE          PROPOSED MAXIMUM                AMOUNT OF
TITLE OF SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED      BE REGISTERED        PER SHARE(1)       AGGREGATE OFFERING PRICE(1)     REGISTRATION FEE
------------------------------------      -------------      ----------------     ---------------------------     ----------------
American Depositary Shares ("ADSs")         250,000(2)           $9.275                 $2,318,750.00                  $214.00
and each 1/10th of a registered share,
par value CHF 30 per registered share,
underlying such ADSs
(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 April 1, 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 2002 Employee Stock Purchase 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; and

                  (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 2002 Employee Stock Purchase 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 29th day of March, 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                    March 29, 2002
-------------------------------------            (Principal Executive Officer)
Stephan Rietiker

/s/ URS KAMBER                                   Chief Financial Officer                                  March 29, 2002
-------------------------------------
Urs Kamber

/s/ STEFFEN GAY                                  Director                                                 March 29, 2002
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Steffen Gay

/s/ MAX LINK                                     Director                                                 March 29, 2002
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Max Link

/s/ LARRY L. MATHIS                              Director                                                 March 29, 2002
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Larry L. Mathis

/s/ DAVID WISE                                   Authorized Representative in the United States           March 29, 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 2002 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

   *23.1          Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers AG, independent accountants.

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

*Filed herewith

                                      II-6