Terminal Illness & End-of-Life Planning in Democratic Republic of the Congo: 5-Step Official Checklist

1. 1

   Coordinating palliative care, medical support, and healthcare coverage

   • Hospital care pathway and specialist units: Management of a serious or progressive illness is coordinated through general referral hospitals, university clinics (notably in Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, or Bukavu), and accredited medical facilities operating under the Ministère de la Santé Publique, Hygiène et Prévoyance Sociale [1]. The attending medical team establishes a care protocol focused on pain management and continuity of treatment [1].
   • Home-based care and therapeutic continuity: Where the patient's clinical condition allows care at home, the supervising physician coordinates analgesic prescriptions, nursing visits, and support from palliative or community healthcare networks [1]. Keeping a comprehensive medical folder containing hospital discharge summaries, laboratory results, and active prescriptions is essential [1].
   • Financial coverage and health protection: Depending on your relative's employment status, medical costs may be covered by mandatory employer healthcare schemes under the Congolese Labour Code, a mutual health organisation, or Universal Health Coverage mechanisms supervised by the Ministère de la Santé Publique, Hygiène et Prévoyance Sociale [1].
2. 2

   Recording advance medical wishes and appointing a trusted representative

   • Written statement of care preferences: While your family member retains full decision-making capacity, they should prepare a dated and signed written statement expressing their preferences regarding medical treatments, pain relief, invasive interventions, and preferred place of care [1] [4]. This document should be placed in the hospital medical file and shared with the attending physician [1].
   • Designating a primary family spokesperson: Under Congolese law and hospital practice, the patient's free and informed consent is the guiding principle, while the family plays a central role once the patient can no longer communicate [1] [5]. Designating a trusted family spokesperson in writing guides physicians and prevents disagreements among relatives during urgent clinical decisions [1] [4].
   • Access to medical records: The patient may expressly authorise this designated representative to receive confidential medical updates and obtain medical certificates required for administrative and social security procedures [1] [4].
3. 3

   Bank powers of attorney, notarial mandates, and legal protection

   • Express bank powers of attorney: While your relative retains full legal capacity, they should contact their banks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (or request a home or hospital visit by a bank officer) to sign a bank account power of attorney [4]. This mandate enables a trusted representative to execute transfers, pay medical expenses, and manage ongoing income without account freezes [4].
   • Notarial power of attorney before a public notary: For broader administrative or property transactions (managing real estate, dealing with tax or land registries, or overseeing business affairs), your relative should execute a special or general power of attorney by authentic deed before a Congolese notary in accordance with official administrative procedures [4] [5].
   • Anticipating loss of legal capacity: If the illness later causes a lasting impairment of mental capacity, the Family Code provides judicial protection regimes (judicial interdiction or curatorship ordered by the competent court with the appointment of a guardian or curator) [5]. Putting notarial and banking mandates in place early avoids the delays of emergency court proceedings [4] [5].
4. 4

   Activating disability benefits and social protection entitlements

   • Private-sector disability pension: If your relative is a salaried employee registered under the general scheme and experiences a permanent medically certified reduction in physical or mental capacity, a disability pension claim may be submitted to the Caisse Nationale de Sécurité Sociale [2]. The claim file requires a detailed medical report completed by the attending physician and validated by the social security medical adviser, together with proof of employment and contributions [2].
   • Special scheme for public-sector civil servants: For civil servants and state employees affected by a severe or disabling illness, long-term sick leave and disability annuities or pensions are administered under the rules of the Caisse Nationale de Sécurité Sociale des Agents Publics de l'État [3]. An official medical board assessment is required to certify temporary or permanent incapacity [3].
   • Employer obligations and family caregiver support: Under the Congolese Labour Code, the employer is required to maintain partial or full salary payments during statutory sick leave and contribute to healthcare for the worker and their family [1] [2]. Employed family caregivers may also request authorised leave or schedule adjustments from their employer [2].
5. 5

   Will preparation, life insurance beneficiaries, and estate organisation

   • Drafting a valid will under the Family Code: Book IV of Law No. 87-010 enacting the Family Code recognises three forms of wills in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: the authentic will executed before a notary or civil registrar, the holographic will written, dated, and signed entirely in the testator's own hand, and the oral will (strictly limited to imminent end-of-life situations before witnesses) [5]. Executing an authentic will or depositing a holographic will with a notary ensures strong legal certainty [5].
   • Forced heirship rules and appointing an estate liquidator: Any will must respect the statutory three-quarters forced share reserved for first-category heirs (children and their descendants) [5]. Your relative may also use the will to designate the estate liquidator who will administer the estate, preventing future family disputes [5].
   • Life insurance, land certificates, and cross-border assets: It is advisable to review beneficiary designations on insurance policies and compile civil status records (registered marriage certificate, children's birth or affiliation certificates), registered land title certificates, and bank statements [4] [5]. Where heirs or assets are located abroad, a notary can coordinate cross-border recognition of the will and powers of attorney [4] [5].

Official Authorities & Verified Contacts

Official Sources Checked by Clarvia

1. [1]
   Social Protection and Health Coverage in the Democratic Republic of the Congo — Ministère de la Santé Publique, Hygiène et Prévoyance Sociale
2. [2]
   General Social Security Scheme and Disability Pensions — Caisse Nationale de Sécurité Sociale (CNSS)
3. [3]
   Overview of Social Security and Risk Coverage for Public Servants — Caisse Nationale de Sécurité Sociale des Agents Publics de l'État (CNSSAP)
4. [4]
   Administrative Formalities and Official Acts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo — Portail des Services Publics de la République Démocratique du Congo
5. [5]
   Law No. 87-010 Enacting the Family Code - Book IV: Wills, Successions, and Gifts — Ministère de la Justice / Droit Congolais