Cramer recommended Becton Dickinson (BDX) as another of his favorite healthcare names. The company manufactures syringes, needles and other surgical supplies and also has a diagnostic division.

Smith & Nephew has a diversified portfolio of health care businesses. It gets 37% of its revenues from orthopedic reconstruction and it has a orthopedic trauma, endoscopy, and advanced wound care business as well. Cramer said all of its businesses are good and stable.

Cramer credits much of Genentech's strength and future to its cancer-fighting drug Avastin. He called Avastin a "wonder drug," noting that while the drug doesn't cure cancer, Genentech has been able to continually find new uses for it. Avastin, he said, is now used for not only breast cancer but also for colon and lung cancer, with several other treatments in development. Cramer also likes Genentech for its myriad other drugs and its strong drug pipeline, which he feels will give the stock many catalysts over the next year.

He said that traditional recession stocks would normally include the food and beverage names, but with raw costs rising, these stocks, with perhaps the exception of Heinz (HNZ) and General Mills (GIS), are the wrong move for this market.

He said that traditional recession stocks would normally include the food and beverage names, but with raw costs rising, these stocks, with perhaps the exception of Heinz (HNZ) and General Mills (GIS), are the wrong move for this market.

Hospira is currently the No. 1 maker of specialty injectable pharmaceuticals, with 17% market share in the U.S. The company also has real potential for growth in Japan, where generic drug use by the government-run healthcare system accounts for only 16% of all drugs used, compared to 50% in the U.S.

Cramer recommended CR Bard (BCR) as the last in his series this week of favorite healthcare names. CR Bard manufactures catheters and other surgical supplies and devices. The stock has fallen from a high of $188 in March, 2007, giving it huge potential upside.