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

1. 1

   Coordinate Palliative Care, Home Nursing, and Health Coverage

   • Public palliative and oncology care: Under Law No. 138/2014 on Palliative Care in the Republic of Albania, governed by the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, patients with life-limiting illnesses are entitled to multidisciplinary symptom management, pain control, and psychosocial support through regional hospital palliative units, the Oncology Service at Mother Teresa University Hospital Center (QSUT), and home-based palliative teams (shërbimi paliativ në banesë) [1].
   • Compulsory health insurance coverage and drug reimbursement: Through a referral from the family physician (mjeku i familjes) and specialist medical commission, the Compulsory Health Care Insurance Fund (Fondi i Sigurimit të Detyrueshëm të Kujdesit Shëndetësor - FSDKSH) covers approved inpatient consultations, diagnostic workups, and full or partial reimbursement for palliative and pain-relief medications on the national reimbursement list (Lista e Barnave të Rimbursueshme) [1] [2].
   • Home care and non-governmental hospice services: In major municipalities, public home nursing is supplemented by licensed non-profit hospice providers (such as Ryder Albania and Mary Potter Palliative Care Center) operating in coordination with the Ministry of Health and Social Protection [1]. Keeping certified copies of all hospital discharge summaries (fletëdalje nga spitali) and oncology commission decisions (vendim i komisionit onkologjik) is essential for subsequent benefit applications [1] [2].
2. 2

   Record Advance Healthcare Preferences and Designate a Medical Representative

   • Informed consent and patient rights: Under Law No. 10107 on Healthcare in the Republic of Albania and Law No. 138/2014 on Palliative Care, every patient with mental capacity has the statutory right to receive comprehensive medical information and to give or withhold informed consent (pëlqimi i informuar) for any proposed medical treatment or invasive intervention [1].
   • Written statement of medical preferences: Because Albania does not maintain a central electronic living-will register, a patient who wishes to record specific end-of-life treatment preferences or refusals of extraordinary life-sustaining measures should execute a written declaration before a public notary registered with the National Chamber of Notaries of Albania (Dhoma Kombëtare e Noterisë) and provide copies to the family physician and treating hospital [1] [3].
   • Appointing a healthcare representative: Under Albania's palliative care and healthcare rules, while your family member retains full legal capacity (zotësia e plotë për tëepruar), they can formally name a trusted adult representative via a notarial authorization (prokurë e posaçme për përfaqësim mjekësor) and record that representative in the clinical file so doctors have an authorized contact if the patient later becomes unable to communicate [1] [3].
3. 3

   Execute Financial and Legal Powers of Attorney and Bank Mandates

   • Notarized general or special power of attorney (Prokurë): Under the Civil Code of the Republic of Albania and Law No. 110/2018 on Notariat, any power of attorney authorizing another person to manage real estate, pensions, taxes, or legal transactions must be executed as a notarial act while the principal has full mental and legal capacity [3].
   • Bedside notarization at home or in hospital: If serious illness prevents your family member from visiting a notary office in person, Law No. 110/2018 permits a public notary from the National Chamber of Notaries of Albania to conduct an official out-of-office attendance at the patient's residence or hospital ward, verify identity and mental capacity, and register the power of attorney in the electronic notarial system (NISA) [3].
   • Bank account mandates: Commercial banks in Albania require either an internal bank mandate signed by the account holder at the branch or a specific notarial power of attorney (prokurë e posaçme bankare) that explicitly lists the bank name, account numbers, and permitted actions (withdrawals, transfers, e-banking management, and pension collection) [3]. Because powers of attorney under the Albanian Civil Code can be affected if legal incapacity is later declared by a court without guardianship arrangements, completing bank mandates promptly is critical [3].
4. 4

   Activate Disability, Dependency, and Caregiver Support Benefits

   • Disability pension (Pensioni i invaliditetit): Insured workers of working age who become partially or totally unable to work due to severe illness may apply for a disability pension (pensioni i invaliditetit) and supplementary care allowance through the Medical Commission for the Determination of Work Ability (KMCAP) under the Social Insurance Institute (Instituti i Sigurimeve Shoqërore - ISSH) [4] [5]. Applications and medical files are submitted electronically via the e-Albania Government Portal [4] [5].
   • Social disability and personal caregiver allowance (Pagesa e aftësisë së kufizuar dhe ndihmësit personal): Regardless of contributory pension history, patients assessed with severe functional impairment under the biopsychosocial or medical evaluation commissions supervised by the Ministry of Health and Social Protection and State Social Service (Shërbimi Social Shtetëror) may qualify for a monthly disability benefit and a dedicated financial allowance for a personal caregiver (pagesa për kujdestarin) [1] [5].
   • Temporary medical incapacity and family care leave: Employed patients receive paid medical leave (raport mjekësor për paaftësi të përkohshme në punë) via the Social Insurance Institute and the e-Albania Government Portal, while employed family members caring for a dependent relative are entitled to statutory paid and unpaid family care leave under the Labor Code of the Republic of Albania [4] [5].
5. 5

   Review Wills, Civil Status Records, and Property Documentation

   • Executing a notarial or holographic will: Under the Civil Code of the Republic of Albania, a person with full legal capacity may execute a notarial will (testament me akt noterial) before a public notary from the National Chamber of Notaries of Albania, which is immediately registered in the National Register of Wills (Regjistri Kombëtar i Testamenteve), or a holographic will written, dated, and signed entirely by hand [3]. Testators must respect the statutory legal reserve (rezerva ligjore), which protects minor children, disabled direct heirs, and unborn heirs from disinheritance [3].
   • Verifying civil status and cadastral title records: Through the e-Albania Government Portal, your family member or their authorized representative should download current birth, marriage, and family composition certificates (Certifikatë familjare) to ensure all family relationships are accurately recorded in the National Registry of Civil Status, and verify real estate ownership certificates (certifikatë pronësie) with the State Cadastre Agency (ASHK) [6].
   • Cross-border legal and asset coordination: If family representatives or assets are situated outside Albania, ensure that powers of attorney and civil status documents are legalized with an Apostille stamp through the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and translated by a certified translator licensed by the Ministry of Justice [3] [6].

Official Authorities & Verified Contacts

Official Sources Checked by Clarvia

1. [1]
   Palliative Care Standards, Hospital Services, and Social Protection Programs — Ministry of Health and Social Protection of Albania
2. [2]
   Health Insurance Packages and Reimbursed Medication Lists — Compulsory Health Care Insurance Fund of Albania (FSDKSH)
3. [3]
   Public Notary Directory, Powers of Attorney, and National Register of Wills — National Chamber of Notaries of Albania (Dhoma Kombëtare e Noterisë)
4. [4]
   Online Applications for Disability Pensions and Social Insurance Benefits — Social Insurance Institute of Albania (ISSH)
5. [5]
   Electronic Pension and Disability Insurance Services — e-Albania Government Portal / AKSHI
6. [6]
   Civil Status Certificates and Official Electronic Extracts — e-Albania Government Portal / AKSHI