Terminal Illness & End-of-Life Planning in Afghanistan: 5-Step Official Checklist

1. 1

   Coordinate Palliative Care, Home Support, and Health Coverage

   • Public oncology and palliative care services: Specialized symptom management, pain relief, and supportive care are coordinated through tertiary public hospitals under the Ministry of Public Health of Afghanistan, including the National Cancer Control Programme units in Kabul (such as Jamhuriat Hospital and Ali Abad Teaching Hospital) and regional provincial referral hospitals [1] [2].
   • Multidisciplinary symptom management and home care: Through clinical capacity programs supported by the World Health Organization Afghanistan, hospital oncology teams provide outpatient pain-management regimens, family caregiving instruction, and psychosocial guidance so that patients who prefer to remain at home can receive structured symptom support [1] [2].
   • Health coverage and humanitarian medical assistance: Public hospital consultations and basic essential medicines under the Essential Package of Hospital Services are subsidized by the Ministry of Public Health of Afghanistan, though families often supplement specialized medications through private pharmacies or humanitarian health programs coordinated with World Health Organization Afghanistan partners [1] [2].
2. 2

   Record Medical Treatment Preferences and Designate a Healthcare Spokesperson

   • Written medical preferences: Afghanistan does not have a standalone statutory living-will registry, so while your family member retains full mental capacity, it is advisable to consider recording clear written treatment preferences - such as consent to or refusal of invasive resuscitation, mechanical ventilation, or intensive-care transfer - in the clinical file held by the attending physician under the Ministry of Public Health of Afghanistan [1] [2].
   • Family medical representative (Wali or designated proxy): In Afghan clinical practice, doctors consult the patient directly while capacity is intact and otherwise rely on the senior close family representative or a formally designated agent to confirm consent for surgical or palliative interventions [1] [3].
   • Hospital care directive documentation: Providing the treating hospital team with a signed statement naming the primary family contact and backup decision-maker helps prevent delays or disagreements among relatives during medical emergencies [1] [2].
3. 3

   Execute Legal Powers of Attorney and Bank Mandates While Capacity Is Intact

   • Court-registered Power of Attorney (Wakalat-Nama): Under the Civil Code and judicial procedures overseen by the Ministry of Justice of Afghanistan, a person who holds full mental capacity (Ahliyat) can execute an official general or specific Power of Attorney (Wakalat-Nama / Khat-e-Wakalat) before a primary court registration office (Wasaia waWathiqa-jat) [3].
   • Verification of identity and witnesses: To execute a court-registered Wakalat-Nama, both the principal (the ill person) and the appointed representative must present valid national identity cards (Tazkira or e-Tazkira) issued by the National Statistics and Information Authority, along with two adult witnesses and recent passport photographs [3] [4].
   • Commercial bank mandates: Because commercial banks in Afghanistan frequently require account holders to appear in person or provide a bank-verified mandate coupled with a court-certified Wakalat-Nama, your family member should register an authorized signatory directly at their bank branch while still able to travel or arrange a home verification visit [3] [4].
4. 4

   Activate Disability, Critical-Illness, and Caregiver Support

   • Public-sector medical retirement and disability benefits: If your family member is a current or former public employee covered by the public pension system regulated under laws published by the Ministry of Justice of Afghanistan, a medical commission under the Ministry of Public Health of Afghanistan can certify permanent work incapacity or severe illness to activate early disability retirement benefits [1] [3].
   • Workplace medical leave: Under Afghan labor regulations, employees facing serious illness or caring for an immediate family member may request certified medical leave or unpaid family care leave supported by an official hospital medical certificate [1] [3].
   • Humanitarian and protection assistance: For vulnerable households, returnees, or internally displaced families coping with severe chronic illness or disability, UNHCR Afghanistan and partner protection networks provide targeted vulnerability assessments, cash-for-health referrals, and civil documentation assistance [5].
5. 5

   Organize the Will, Civil Status Records, and Property Documents

   • Testamentary bequests (Wasiyyat) and statutory succession rules: Under the Civil Code of Afghanistan administered via the Ministry of Justice of Afghanistan, at least two-thirds of a person's net estate passes automatically to statutory legal heirs under fixed Faraid shares, while up to one-third of the net estate may be freely bequeathed by a formal written and witnessed will (Wasiyyat-Nama), and any lifetime gift (Hiba) or property settlement must be completed and delivered while the donor has full legal capacity [3].
   • Consolidating identity and property deeds: Verify that your family member's Tazkira and family civil records with the National Statistics and Information Authority match the names recorded on official property title deeds (Qabala-e-Shar'i), customary deeds (Qabala-e-Urfi), and bank accounts so future succession filings are not delayed by spelling or identity discrepancies [3] [4].
   • Cross-border family members and assets: If designated representatives or future heirs live abroad, ensure that powers of attorney and civil status records from the National Statistics and Information Authority are authenticated through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the relevant diplomatic mission so they can be used across jurisdictions [3, 4, 5].

Official Authorities & Verified Contacts

Official Sources Checked by Clarvia

1. [1]
   Ministry of Public Health of Afghanistan - Healthcare Services Portal — Ministry of Public Health of Afghanistan
2. [2]
   WHO Supports Stronger Cancer and Palliative Care in Afghanistan — World Health Organization Afghanistan
3. [3]
   Ministry of Justice of Afghanistan - Civil Code and Legal Framework — Ministry of Justice of Afghanistan
4. [4]
   National Statistics and Information Authority (NSIA) - Identity and Civil Records — National Statistics and Information Authority
5. [5]
   UNHCR Afghanistan - Protection and Assistance Services — UNHCR