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

1. 1

   Coordinate Palliative Care and Public Health Services

   • Specialist community and inpatient palliative care: Request a referral from the attending consultant at Mater Dei Hospital, Sir Anthony Mamo Oncology Centre, or the family doctor to Hospice Malta, which provides free multidisciplinary home care, symptom management, day therapy, equipment loans, and family support across Malta and Gozo [1].
   • Public healthcare and community nursing: Coordinate through the Ministry for Health and Active Ageing, CommCare community nursing teams, and the Pharmacy of Your Choice (POYC) scheme so prescribed palliative medications and Schedule V entitlement cards are active for continuous symptom relief [1] [5].
   • Private health insurance notifications: If your family member holds private medical insurance, obtain pre-authorisation for home nursing, specialist consultations, or inpatient palliative care to clarify policy limits and direct-billing arrangements [5].
2. 2

   Record Healthcare Preferences and Medical Communication Consents

   • Documenting treatment preferences: While Malta does not currently have a standalone statutory register for binding advance healthcare directives, an adult with full mental capacity may record written care preferences, pain-management goals, and refusal of specific invasive interventions directly in their clinical file with the treating medical team at Mater Dei Hospital or Hospice Malta [1] [5].
   • Designating a primary medical contact: Under Malta's Patient Charter and clinical governance rules, the patient should formally name a trusted family member or representative in their hospital and community care records who is authorised to receive clinical updates and participate in multidisciplinary care conferences [1] [5].
   • Coordinating emergency care plans: Ensure a written summary of current diagnoses, medication regimens, and palliative care contacts is kept at home so emergency doctors or visiting community nurses can follow the agreed clinical care plan [1].
3. 3

   Execute Powers of Attorney and Financial Mandates While Capacity Is Intact

   • Notarial mandate (power of attorney): Under the Maltese Civil Code (Chapter 16), a general or special mandate (prokura) must be executed while the grantor has full mental capacity. Engage a warranted Notary Public in Malta to draft a clear power of attorney authorising a trusted representative to manage bank accounts, sign contracts, or administer immovable property, and have the notary register it on the Notarial Portal [3].
   • Appointing a social security Administrator: If the ill person requires someone to manage their pension or benefit payments, submit an Application for the Appointment of an Administrator through Servizz.gov to the Department of Social Security, supported by a certified copy of the registered Power of Attorney or medical documentation [3].
   • Bank mandates and capacity safeguards: Because an ordinary mandate in Malta can be challenged or terminated if the grantor later loses mental capacity (potentially requiring a Court of Voluntary Jurisdiction guardianship or curatorship order), visit the person's Maltese banks immediately while capacity is intact to complete each institution's own power-of-attorney verification forms [3].
4. 4

   Activate Disability Allowances and Caregiver Support

   • Disability and Severe Disability Assistance: Apply through Servizz.gov (Service WEB-04221) to the Department of Social Security for Disability Assistance or Severe Disability Assistance, which are assessed by an Inter-Professional Board using the functional criteria of the World Health Organization ICF framework [2].
   • Carer's Allowance and Increased Carer's Allowance: Family members or caregivers providing full-time care at home to a person with high dependency needs may apply to the Department of Social Security for the Carer's Allowance or Increased Carer's Allowance, alongside municipal subsidised home-help services through Active Ageing and Community Care [2] [3].
   • Statutory employment leave for carers: Employed family members in Malta are entitled under the Work-Life Balance for Parents and Carers Regulations to request up to 5 working days of unpaid carers' leave per year for serious medical care needs, as well as flexible working arrangements upon presenting medical certification [2].
5. 5

   Organise Wills, Civil Status Records, and Property Documentation

   • Drafting or reviewing a Maltese will: While the ill person retains full testamentary capacity, consult a warranted Notary Public to execute or update a public will (testment pubbliku) or secret will, ensuring compliance with Maltese reserved-portion (legitima) rules and registering the note of enrolment at the Public Registry [4].
   • Consolidating civil status and financial records: Gather current marriage or civil union certificates from the Public Registry, title deeds and site plans for immovable property in Malta, and account statements for bank holdings and Malta Government Stocks held with the Treasury of Malta so future Causa Mortis declarations can be completed without delay [4].
   • Cross-border estate and mandate coordination: If the ill person is a foreign national residing in Malta or owns assets in another country, ask the notary whether to include an explicit choice-of-law clause under the EU Succession Regulation (Regulation 650/2012) and obtain an Apostille for any power of attorney that must be recognised abroad [3] [4].

Official Authorities & Verified Contacts

Official Sources Checked by Clarvia

1. [1]
   Palliative Care Services for Patients and Families — Hospice Malta
2. [2]
   Disability Assistance and Severe Disability Assistance (WEB-04221) — Servizz.gov / Department of Social Security
3. [3]
   Appointment of an Administrator via Power of Attorney or Mandate (WEB622) — Servizz.gov / Department of Social Security
4. [4]
   Causa Mortis, Testamentary Searches, and Government Stock Transmission — Treasury of Malta
5. [5]
   Public Healthcare Services in Malta — Ministry for Health and Active Ageing