Argentine lawyer Virginia Luna (right), one of the demandants affected by the Poly Implant Prosthesis (PIP) breast implant case, speaks during an information meeting for women carrying the prostheses in Buenos Aires on Dec 27. [Alejandro Pagni / Agence France-Presse]

French authorities ordered Poly Implant Prosthesis (PIP), once the world's third-largest breast implant maker, to recall its breast implants after an inspection revealed the company was using industrial-grade - rather than medical-grade - silicone in 2010.

The company soon after went bankrupt and out of business. Its founder, Jean-Claude Mas, has disappeared and is wanted by French law enforcement.

The result has been a scare rattling hundreds of thousands of women across the globe.

Medical authorities in every country that imported PIP implants have launched investigations but have come to different conclusions.

French authorities recommend removals and say public healthcare funds will finance the operations.

The Czech Health Ministry spokesman recommends the estimated 2,000 Czech women get replacements, but the country has yet to determine who will foot the bill.

But the UK government says removals are unnecessary for the estimated 40,000 British women who received PIP implants.

Brazil, where about 25,000 women got PIP implants, and Germany advise recipients to consult their doctors and receive checkups but stop short of recommending removals.

Australian medical regulators determine the 4,500 Australian women with PIP breast implants do not face increased risk of rupture.

Italy's health minister has urged the country's hospitals and clinics to compile a list of women who received the implants.

A large number of women have been affected in Latin America, where the cosmetic surgery industry is huge.

Venezuela's health minister says women can get free checkups and removals - but not replacements.

And Colombia says the state would pay for the implant removal under doctors' recommendations or if the implants ruptured, creating medical emergencies.

China Daily