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

1. 1

   Activating Palliative Care and Coordinating Healthcare Coverage in Equatorial Guinea

   • Public hospital network and reference centres: If the ill person is receiving care within the public system supervised by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (Ministerio de Sanidad y Bienestar Social - MINSABS), the attending specialist at the regional reference hospitals (such as the Regional Hospital of Malabo or the Regional Hospital of Bata) or at partner medical centres such as La Paz can establish a symptom-management plan, pain-control regimen, and outpatient or home follow-up [1] [5].
   • Medical and pharmaceutical coverage through INSESO: When your family member is an insured worker or pensioner affiliated with the National Social Security Institute (Instituto Nacional de Seguridad Social - INSESO), it is advisable to submit updated medical reports to the medical directorate or provincial delegation of the institute in Malabo or Bata to process healthcare benefits, hospitalisation authorisations, supply of specialised medication, and, where clinically indicated, medical evacuation files [3].
   • Private health insurance and clinical records: If the ill person holds a private health insurance policy or corporate medical coverage, it is advisable to request a comprehensive clinical report with diagnosis and palliative care plan from the medical team to activate hospitalisation or home-care benefits, while keeping certified copies of the complete medical file [1] [5].
2. 2

   Advance Medical Directives and Appointing a Healthcare Proxy

   • Informed consent and patient autonomy: Although Equatorial Guinea does not maintain a single electronic national registry for living wills, the general principles of medical ethics and patient rights applied by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare recognise the right of every person with full mental capacity to grant or refuse informed consent to invasive procedures and to prioritise palliative comfort measures [1] [5].
   • Notarial declaration of advance medical directives and family proxy: While the ill person retains full judgment, it is strongly advisable to execute a public deed before a Notary attached to the Administration of Justice of Equatorial Guinea (Administración de Justicia de Guinea Ecuatorial) setting out advance medical instructions together with the express appointment of a trusted family member or proxy to act as interlocutor before medical teams should the patient later lose the ability to communicate [2] [4].
   • Filing with the hospital and attending physician: A certified copy of this notarial deed should be delivered to the medical directorate of the hospital, the attending physician, and the appointed proxy so that it is visibly recorded in the clinical file [1] [2].
3. 3

   Executing Notarial Powers of Attorney and Bank Mandates While Capacity Is Intact

   • Granting a general or special power of attorney before a Notary: Under the civil law in force in the country, while your family member retains intact legal capacity they may appear before a public Notary office under the Administration of Justice of Equatorial Guinea (in Malabo, Bata, or another judicial district) to execute a public deed of general power of administration or special power of attorney with express authority for administrative procedures, collection of pensions, and management or disposition of assets [2].
   • Notary visit to the hospital or home: If the illness severely restricts the ill person's physical mobility but they retain full mental lucidity confirmed by a medical certificate, the public Notary may be requested to travel to the hospital or family home to verify the grantor's capacity and authorise the signing of the deed [2].
   • Registering signatures and mandates with banks: Because banks operating in Equatorial Guinea (such as BANGE, CCEI Bank GE, or Ecobank) strictly verify powers of representation, it is advisable to present the certified copy of the notarial power of attorney immediately at each financial institution and sign their internal signature-authorisation forms while the account holder can personally ratify them [2] [4].
4. 4

   Claiming Disability or Sickness Benefits and Caregiver Leave

   • Temporary sickness benefit: If the ill person is actively employed and contributes to the National Social Security Institute (INSESO), medical leave certificates issued by authorised physicians entitle the worker to receive temporary incapacity benefits (subsidio por incapacidad temporal) for common or occupational illness once the initial employer-paid period under labour and social security rules has elapsed [3].
   • Permanent disability pension before INSESO: When a serious or chronic illness results in a permanent reduction in working capacity, an assessment by the competent medical board of the National Social Security Institute may be requested to recognise a permanent disability pension (pensión de invalidez), submitting the hospital clinical history, identity document, and contribution records [3].
   • Employment leave for family caregivers: Family members employed in the formal sector in Equatorial Guinea may request paid or unpaid leave from their employer for the serious illness or hospitalisation of close relatives under the General Labour Regulations, presenting the medical certificate issued by the hospital of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare or the treating clinic [1] [2].
5. 5

   Preventive Will Preparation, Insurance Beneficiaries, and Civil and Property Records

   • Executing an open will before a Notary: To prevent future disputes or lengthy court proceedings, the safest course while the ill person retains full mental capacity is to execute an open will (testamento abierto) in a public deed before a Notary of the Administration of Justice of Equatorial Guinea, respecting the compulsory reserve shares (legítimas) of forced heirs under applicable civil law [2].
   • Updating insurance and contract beneficiaries: Life insurance policies, corporate group insurance, and pension plans should be reviewed to confirm that beneficiary designations are up to date, as insurance proceeds are paid directly to named beneficiaries [2] [3].
   • Reviewing Civil Registry certificates and international coordination: It is important to obtain and verify literal birth and marriage certificates from the Equatoguinean Civil Registry now to correct any spelling or date discrepancies; furthermore, if your family member holds assets or has heirs abroad, since Equatorial Guinea is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, powers of attorney or notarial deeds must be legalised through diplomatic channels before the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the relevant foreign diplomatic mission (such as the Consulate General of Spain in Malabo for matters connected with Spain) [2] [4].

Official Authorities & Verified Contacts

Official Sources Checked by Clarvia

1. [1]
   Institutional Portal of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MINSABS) — Ministerio de Sanidad y Bienestar Social de Guinea Ecuatorial
2. [2]
   Press and Information Office of Equatorial Guinea - State Institutions and Administration — Gobierno de la República de Guinea Ecuatorial
3. [3]
   National Social Security Institute of Equatorial Guinea (INSESO) - Contact and Benefits — Instituto Nacional de Seguridad Social (INSESO)
4. [4]
   Consular Services, Notarial Functions, and Legalisations in Equatorial Guinea — Consulado General de España en Malabo - Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores
5. [5]
   Equatorial Guinea Health and Institutional Country Profile — Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS)