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

1. 1

   Coordinating palliative care and specialised medical support

   • Care in national and regional specialist hospitals: In Mauritania, the clinical management of serious or progressive illnesses (such as oncology care at the National Oncology Centre in Nouakchott, severe cardiovascular conditions, or chronic organ failure) is delivered through national and regional hospital facilities in line with public health policies supported by the World Health Organization [4] [5].
   • Supportive care and home-based follow-up: The hospital medical team establishes an individualised pain-management and supportive-care protocol that can be continued at home in coordination with the attending physician and local district (moughataa) health services [4] [5]. Families should request a comprehensive medical report detailing the diagnosis, prescribed pain-relief treatments, and emergency clinical instructions [5].
   • Coverage under the National Health Insurance Fund (CNAM): If your family member is insured with the National Health Insurance Fund (CNAM), the treating specialist should submit a long-term illness (ALD) or high-cost treatment application to secure enhanced reimbursement for hospital admissions, specialist medications, and, where applicable, approved medical evacuations under the framework coordinated with the National Social Security Fund (CNSS) [3] [4].
2. 2

   Documenting medical wishes and designating a family healthcare spokesperson

   • Written statement of care preferences: Because Mauritania does not operate a statutory electronic registry for advance medical directives, any adult of sound mind may record in writing, on a document dated and signed before witnesses or a notary, their preferences regarding medical care, pain relief, and whether they wish to be cared for at home or in hospital [2] [5].
   • Designating a trusted family representative: In Mauritanian hospital practice, medical teams consult closely with immediate family members whenever a patient is no longer able to express informed consent directly [2] [5]. Explicitly designating in writing a primary family spokesperson (such as a spouse, parent, or adult child) to communicate with physicians prevents family disagreements and provides clarity for the care team [2].
   • Inclusion in the medical file: We advise providing a signed copy of this written care statement and the contact details of the designated family representative to the supervising hospital physician as well as immediate family members [5].
3. 3

   Establishing bank powers of attorney, notarial mandates, and legal protection

   • Bank powers of attorney: While your family member retains full legal capacity, it is essential to contact their commercial banks in Mauritania to sign a formal bank power of attorney on their accounts, allowing a trusted representative to pay medical expenses and household bills without interruption [2].
   • Notarial power of attorney for administration (wakala): For managing real estate, collecting rental income, or representing the patient before public and tax authorities, the ill person can execute a general or special power of attorney by authentic deed before a Mauritanian notary or through the judicial services operating under the Ministry of Justice of Mauritania [2].
   • Guardianship and judicial protection in case of incapacity: If the progression of the illness later causes a severe and lasting impairment of mental faculties, Law No. 2001-052 enacting the Personal Status Code provides that the competent judge under the Ministry of Justice of Mauritania may order legal interdiction due to incapacity and appoint a legal or testamentary guardian (wasi) to administer the person's property under judicial supervision [2].
4. 4

   Activating disability pensions, constant-attendance supplements, and social rights

   • Salaried workers' disability pension (CNSS): Where the ill person is affiliated with the National Social Security Fund (CNSS) and suffers from premature physical wear or non-occupational disability reducing their working or earning capacity by at least two-thirds before retirement age, a disability pension application can be submitted together with the complete medical file [3].
   • Constant-attendance supplement for a third person: If a disabled insured person recognised by the National Social Security Fund (CNSS) requires constant assistance from another person to perform essential daily living activities, their disability pension is increased by a statutory fifty percent supplement to support daily home caregiving [3].
   • Long-term medical leave and public-sector coverage: Civil servants and state employees qualify for statutory long-term medical leave through the civil service administration and healthcare coverage via the National Health Insurance Fund (CNAM), while employed family caregivers can request exceptional family-event leave from their employer [2] [3] [4].
5. 5

   Advance review of wills, biometric civil status records, and estate documents

   • Rules governing wills (wasiyya) under Mauritanian law: Pursuant to Book IV of Law No. 2001-052 enacting the Personal Status Code applied by the courts under the Ministry of Justice of Mauritania, any adult of sound mind may execute an authentic or certified will disposing of up to one-third of their net estate (after deduction of debts) in favour of beneficiaries who are not already statutory forced heirs, and may record all outstanding debts and obligations [2].
   • Updating biometric civil status records (ANRPTS): To prevent future administrative obstacles for the spouse and children, verify now that the birth certificate, marriage certificate, and biometric national identity cards of your family member and all dependants are fully up to date with the National Agency for the Population Register and Secure Documents (ANRPTS) [1].
   • Assembling property records and cross-border coordination: Gather all land titles, occupancy permits, bank statements, insurance contracts, and pension or salary statements issued by the National Social Security Fund (CNSS) [2] [3]. If assets or family members are located abroad, ask a notary to verify that the names and National Identification Numbers (NNI) recorded on property deeds match the records held by the National Agency for the Population Register and Secure Documents (ANRPTS) [1] [2].

Official Authorities & Verified Contacts

Official Sources Checked by Clarvia

1. [1]
   Official Portal for Biometric Civil Registration and Secure Documents (ANRPTS) — Agence Nationale du Registre des Populations et des Titres Sécurisés (Mauritanie)
2. [2]
   Administrative and Judicial Procedures of the Ministry of Justice — Portail des Procédures et Formalités Administratives de la République Islamique de Mauritanie
3. [3]
   The Mauritanian Social Security System (CNSS and CNAM - Disability and Sickness) — Centre des Liaisons Européennes et Internationales de Sécurité Sociale (CLEISS)
4. [4]
   Digital Portal for Insured Persons and Healthcare Benefits (e-CNAM) — Caisse Nationale d'Assurance Maladie (CNAM Mauritanie)
5. [5]
   Mauritania: Country Health Profile and Public Health Programmes — Organisation mondiale de la Santé (OMS)