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

1. 1

   Coordinating palliative care and specialized medical support

   • Hospital-based specialized care: Continuous symptom management, pain relief, and multidisciplinary specialist care in Chad are primarily coordinated through national referral hospitals supervised by the Ministry of Public Health and Prevention (Ministère de la Santé Publique et de la Prévention), including the National Reference University Hospital and the Good Samaritan University Hospital in N'Djamena [4][5]. The treating medical team establishes a tailored care protocol covering pain control and supportive therapy [4][5].
   • Home care and therapeutic continuity: When the patient's condition allows care at home, coordination is arranged between the hospital specialist and district health centers under the Ministry of Public Health and Prevention to ensure regular analgesic prescriptions and nursing visits [4][5].
   • Health insurance coverage and medical referral: Verify benefit coverage with the National Health Insurance and Social Guarantee Fund (CNAMGS) or private health insurers, as well as the medical board procedures required if a specialized medical referral is needed [4][5].
2. 2

   Advance medical directives and designating a healthcare proxy

   • Written statement of medical preferences: Although Chadian health legislation does not maintain a centralized national electronic registry for advance directives, any adult with full mental capacity may record written treatment preferences regarding invasive interventions, resuscitation, and comfort care to guide the clinical team [4][5].
   • Designating a trusted family representative: It is advisable to formally name a trusted family member or healthcare representative in the patient's medical file held by the hospital under the Ministry of Public Health and Prevention [4][5]. Physicians consult this designated representative whenever the patient is no longer able to express informed consent directly [4].
   • Safekeeping and accessibility: Have the written statement dated and signed by your family member in the presence of two witnesses or before a notary, provide a copy to the attending physician, and keep an original copy accessible to the family at all times [1][4].
3. 3

   Banking powers of attorney, notarial mandates, and legal protection

   • Dedicated bank power of attorney: While your family member retains full mental capacity, contact their banks in Chad to execute formal banking powers of attorney (procurations bancaires) over current and savings accounts [1]. This prevents account freezes and ensures uninterrupted payment of medical expenses and household obligations if physical incapacity develops later [1].
   • Notarial general or special power of attorney: For broader administrative or property transactions (managing real estate, dealing with tax or social security authorities, or collecting rental income), the patient can execute an authentic power of attorney (procuration notariée) before a notary registered with the National Chamber of Notaries of Chad [1]. The notary personally verifies the principal's mental capacity at the time of signing [1].
   • Judicial guardianship measures: If cognitive or physical incapacity occurs before a mandate is signed, only the territorially competent High Court (Tribunal de Grande Instance) may establish a judicial guardianship or legal administration order [1].
4. 4

   Disability benefits, social security, and caregiver support

   • Private-sector invalidity pension: If your family member is a salaried worker affiliated with the general social security system and experiences a permanent reduction in working capacity, an application for an invalidity pension can be filed with the National Social Insurance Fund (Caisse Nationale de Prévoyance Sociale - CNPS) under the PVID branch [3][6]. The claim submitted to the National Social Insurance Fund requires a comprehensive medical certificate from the attending physician validated by the fund's medical advisor [3][6].
   • Supplement for third-party assistance: Where the insured person's condition requires constant assistance from another person to perform basic daily activities, the regulations of the National Social Insurance Fund provide a specific pension supplement [3][6].
   • Workplace leave arrangements for family caregivers: Salaried relatives or civil servants caring for a seriously ill family member may request family leave, authorized special absences, or temporary schedule adjustments from their employer upon presentation of an official hospital medical certificate [4][6].
5. 5

   Will preparation, civil status verification, and estate organization

   • Prior verification of civil status records: Before finalizing estate planning, verify that the birth certificates, marriage certificate, and identity documents of your family member and their beneficiaries are properly registered and up to date with municipal civil registries and the National Agency for Secure Documents (Agence Nationale des Titres Sécurisés) [1][2]. Accurate civil records prevent lengthy supplementary court proceedings later [1][2].
   • Drafting a holographic or authentic will: While retaining full legal capacity, your family member may write a holographic will (entirely handwritten, dated, and signed in person) or dictate an authentic will before a Chadian notary to organize the distribution of assets in compliance with mandatory forced-heirship shares [1].
   • Beneficiary designations and cross-border assets: Review beneficiary clauses on life insurance and occupational death-benefit policies, compile a clear inventory of land titles and bank accounts, and coordinate notarial advice if heirs or property are located outside Chad [1][3].

Official Authorities & Verified Contacts

Official Sources Checked by Clarvia

1. [1]
   Legislation Organizing Civil Registration and Civil Records in Chad — République du Tchad / UNICEF
2. [2]
   Official Civil Registration Portal of Chad (ANATS) — Agence Nationale des Titres Sécurisés (Tchad)
3. [3]
   PVID Branch - Invalidity, Old-Age, and Social Security Benefits — Caisse Nationale de Prévoyance Sociale du Tchad (CNPS)
4. [4]
   Official Portal of the Ministry of Public Health and Prevention — Ministère de la Santé Publique et de la Prévention (Tchad)
5. [5]
   National Health Promotion and Well-Being Strategy 2024-2030 (Chad) — Organisation mondiale de la Santé (OMS Afrique) / Ministère de la Santé du Tchad
6. [6]
   The National Social Insurance Fund (CNPS) of Chad - Schemes and Benefits — Conférence Interafricaine de la Prévoyance Sociale (CIPRES)