With a bit of Kiwi ingenuity - New Zealand could jump into the medicines market

A health systems commentator is recommending the move, to end our heavy reliance on overseas pharmaceutical companies.

Epileptics taking the drug primidone will be forced to switch brands in October.

Our supplier Apotex is no longer investing in small countries like New Zealand - to focus on bigger, more profitable markets.

Ian Powell says we already have the right scientists and social cohesion here to produce our own pharmaceuticals.

But he says it would clearly require more investment in our scientists capabilities and capacity.