Free removal of defective breast implants offered by Venezuela

Venezuela’s government offered to cover costs for the surgical removal of breast implants made by French firm Poly Implant Prothese (PIP).

The replacement for the breast implants, feared to be at risk of rupture, will not be covered by the government according to Health Minister Eugenia Sader.

Sader also said that many of the implants had been imported illegally and were banned in several countries in 2010 after discoveries were made of possible splitting.

French authorities also recommended that as a precaution, 30,000 French women should have the PIP implants removed and will cover the costs although no evidence of cancer links have been made.

More than half of all PIP exports were made to South America and more than 300,000 implants are believed to have been globally sold by the company in 65 countries over the last 12 years.