Malta one of two EU member states without reimbursement system

Malta and Latvia are the only two EU member states not offering some form of help to Alzheimer’s patients to acquire costly medicines to treat their condition, a study has shown.

The study was conducted by Alzheimer Europe – an EU-wide NGO aiming to raise awareness on all forms of dementia.

According to the study, although reimbursement systems all over the EU vary in form and quantity, and none are completely free, all member states have included Alzheimer’s/dementia medicines in their national system.

In Malta, patients must pay €150 a month to acquire medicines which are believed to substantially improve quality of life, although they do not cure the condition.

Dr Charles Scerri, president of the Malta Dementia Society, said although the authorities had already done much in the past five years to tackle the growing Alzheimer’s problem in Malta, the issue of free or part-reimbursement of medicines should be addressed without further delay.

“This is a time bomb ready to explode. We estimate that in a few years’ time, as a consequence of the growing aging population, Alzheimer/dementia diseases will be the biggest challenge our health authorities will face. The government has realised this and has started implementing variousmeasures, but the availability of affordable treatment is crucial,” he said.

It is estimated that around 4,500 people in Malta – mostly elderly – currently suffer from Alzheimer’s/dementia.

However, only around 500 can afford the treatment, often with the help of the Community Chest Fund.

The majority cannot afford to take any drugs, and most deteriorate to such an extent that they have to be institutionalised.

According to an expert in Alzheimer’s treatment, although the cost of providing this type of medical treatment would cost the government some €1.5 million a year, the costs of institutionalisation are much higher. “With this medicine, patients can still stay at home as their condition will improve. However, if this treatment is unaffordable and patients are not taking it, many will have to become completely dependent in just a few years’ time,” he said.

The expert said this situation proves Malta’s health system needs to be overhauled when it comes to medicines.

“Things have changed since the 1980s. We can’t continue with a system where we provide free cheap medicines to thousands and nothing where it comes to very costly and unaffordable drugs. The opposite has to happen.”

Last year, the government spent €64 million on free medicines in a system which is subject to abuse.

A spokesman for the Parliamentary Secretariat for the Elderly and Community Care said the government was fully aware of thedifficult situation faced by Alzheimer’s patients and was working on a new strategy aimed at preparing the country to tackle this problem.

A task group has been set up to work on the Dementia Strategy Report submitted by the Dementia Strategy Group. The issue of free medicine is on the agenda, the spokesman said.

The spokesman said the government has also refurbished a block at the St Vincent de Paul residence for the elderly, which for the first time has two wards specifically catering for people suffering from dementia.

The growing problem of Alzheimer’s in Europe was also discussed at the European Parliament last week with MEPs adopting a resolution calling on the EU to step up co-operation and support to improve prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care for patients.