Many people with dementia are not taking their drugs because they cannot afford to pay for them, according to Charles Scerri, chairman of the National Dementia Strategy Group.
Costing around €150 a month, the drugs end up being too expensive for the elderly patients or their carers.
"There are many people who do not buy the drugs, or start taking them but have to stop, because they cannot keep up with the expense," Dr Scerri told The Times.
Although dementia drugs do not work on everyone, they need to be taken for six months for any effects to be seen. The drugs do not stem the disease's progression but help reduce the symptoms.
Malta is one out of only three EU countries where patients suffering from dementia have to pay for their medicines entirely from their own pocket. Everywhere else, the medicines are either given to patients for free or they get a reimbursement.
Financial pressures were among the highest concerns mentioned by relatives of dementia sufferers who answered a questionnaire as part of the strategy group's work. Many also mentioned the lack of support, with very few community services for dementia sufferers.
"Around 60 per cent of carers suffer from a form of depression, anxiety or breakdown. They have enormous feelings of guilt because they feel hopeless." In dementia sufferers, important parts of the brain start to die at an alarming rate, causing severe memory loss, mental confusion, language difficulties, mood variations and personality changes.
It is estimated that there are around 4,500 dementia sufferers in Malta but this number is expected to double within 25 years as the population ages.
The rise in the number of dementia sufferers is worrying the EU, especially because of its high financial cost. In fact, dementia is believed to cost more than cardiovascular disease and diabetes put together. The UK estimates that £17 billion is spent on the illness every year, a figure which includes lost working hours by carers who have to give up their job. A professor from Sweden's Karolinska institute estimated that each patient costs €24,000 every year.
The EU has called on countries to come up with a strategy for better dementia care. This prompted the local authorities to set up the strategy group, which is expected to finalise its recommendations by the end of the year.
The group is taking a three-staged approach. Dr Scerri said the first step was to look at the current situation and it had found a lack of awareness about dementia, apart from the lack of services.
The group is currently in consultation phase and is urging carers to answer a questionnaire available on www.dementia.gov.mt.