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

1. 1

   Coordinate Palliative Care, Home Medical Visits, and Health Coverage

   • Public healthcare and specialist oncology/palliative units: Public hospitals and regional health centers under the Ministry of Health and Wellness (including Victoria Hospital in Candos, Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam National Hospital in Pamplemousses, Dr. A. G. Jeetoo Hospital in Port Louis, Flacq Hospital, and Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital in Rose Belle) provide free inpatient and outpatient specialist care, pain management, and supportive services for citizens and residents [5]. Obtain a detailed written medical report and symptom-control schedule from the treating specialist [5].
   • Domiciliary medical visits and home nursing: For patients who are bedridden or severely mobility-impaired, the Ministry of Health and Wellness and the Ministry of Social Integration, Social Security and National Solidarity coordinate domiciliary medical visits (where government medical officers visit severely disabled or elderly patients at home) alongside accredited non-governmental palliative care providers [3] [5].
   • Private clinic and health insurance coverage: If your family member wishes to receive care at a private clinic or home nursing service covered by private health insurance, contact the insurer early to confirm policy limits for oncology, palliative care, and inpatient hospitalization [5].
2. 2

   Record Advance Medical Preferences and Designate a Healthcare Representative

   • Written statement of medical treatment preferences: Mauritius does not currently have a standalone statutory living will regime, so clinical decision-making is governed by medical ethics and patient informed consent rules overseen by the Ministry of Health and Wellness [5]. While your family member has full capacity, they should sign a written declaration setting out their preferences regarding cardiopulmonary resuscitation, mechanical ventilation, artificial nutrition, and palliative pain relief [5].
   • Designating a trusted medical spokesperson: To assist doctors if the ill person becomes unable to communicate their wishes directly, they should execute a signed and witnessed written authorization naming a trusted adult relative or representative as their primary clinical contact and healthcare spokesperson [5] [6].
   • Filing in hospital records: Provide copies of the signed treatment preferences and representative designation to the attending consultant, private clinic or public hospital medical records unit, and immediate family caregivers [5].
3. 3

   Execute Notarial Powers of Attorney and Bank Mandates

   • Notarial or private Power of Attorney (Procuration): Under the Code Civil Mauricien (Articles 1984 et seq.), while your family member retains full mental and legal capacity, they should execute a formal Procuration (Power of Attorney) before a Mauritian Notary (Notaire) or Attorney-at-Law authorizing a trusted representative (mandataire) to manage immovable property, collect income, pay medical expenses, and deal with administrative authorities [6]. Any Procuration intended to authorize the sale, mortgage, or transfer of land or buildings in Mauritius must be executed as an authentic notarial deed [6].
   • Commercial bank mandates: Mauritian commercial banks require account holders to complete the bank's specific third-party power-of-attorney or signatory mandate form (presenting both the principal's and representative's National Identity Cards issued by the Civil Status Division) before allowing a representative to operate accounts [1] [6].
   • Tax and revenue representation: Authorize the designated representative to handle ongoing income tax returns, e-filing, and social benefit records with the Mauritius Revenue Authority [4].
4. 4

   Activate Invalidity Pensions, Carer's Allowance, and Workplace Protections

   • Basic Invalid's Pension and Carer's Allowance: Under the National Pensions Act and the Social Contribution and Social Benefits Act administered by the Ministry of Social Integration, Social Security and National Solidarity and paid in coordination with the Mauritius Revenue Authority, a person aged under 60 who is certified by the Medical Board as permanently or substantially incapacitated (at least 60% disabled for at least 12 months) is eligible for the Basic Invalid's Pension (and contributory invalidity benefits where applicable) [3] [4]. If the ill person requires constant personal attendance by another person to perform daily living activities - whether under age 60 receiving an Invalid's Pension or aged 60 and above receiving the Basic Retirement Pension - the Medical Board can approve an additional monthly Carer's Allowance (enhanced invalidity/severe disability allowance) as well as incontinence or assistive-device support [3] [4].
   • Application procedure: Submit the claim at the nearest local Social Security Office with the applicant's National Identity Card, birth certificate issued by the Civil Status Division, bank account details, and treating doctor's medical certificate from the Ministry of Health and Wellness [1] [3] [5].
   • Employment sick leave and medical board protections: Under Mauritius's Workers' Rights Act, employees are entitled to paid sick leave and cannot be dismissed for ill health without proper medical evaluation and statutory severance or retirement protections [3] [4].
5. 5

   Organize the Will, Forced-Heirship Planning, and Civil Status Records

   • Drafting a valid Will under the Code Civil Mauricien: In Mauritius, a testator of sound mind may execute a Will in one of the forms recognized by the Code Civil Mauricien: an Authentic Will (testament par acte public) dictated before a Mauritian Notary and witnesses, a Holograph Will (testament olographe) written, dated, and signed entirely in the testator's own handwriting, or a Mystic Will [6]. Because Mauritian succession law enforces strict forced-heirship reserved portions (la réserve héréditaire) for children and protected rights for a surviving spouse, we advise consulting a Mauritian Notary so bequests remain within the disposable quota (la quotité disponible) and avoid later litigation before the Supreme Court of Mauritius [6].
   • Insurance and pension beneficiary designations: Verify and update nominated beneficiaries on private life insurance policies, superannuation funds, and employer occupational pension schemes [3] [4].
   • Civil status and property dossier: Gather up-to-date birth and marriage certificates from the Civil Status Division, National Identity Cards, original notarial title deeds (contrats de vente), and Mauritius Revenue Authority tax statements in a single organized folder [1] [2] [4] [6]. If powers of attorney or property documents must be used outside Mauritius, obtain an Apostille certificate through the Prime Minister's Office in Port Louis [1] [6].

Official Authorities & Verified Contacts

Official Sources Checked by Clarvia

1. [1]
   Civil Status Division (Prime Minister's Office) - Civil Status Certificates and National Identity Records — Civil Status Division (Mauritius)
2. [2]
   Civil Status Division - Official Registry Offices and Contact Information — Civil Status Division (Mauritius)
3. [3]
   The National Pensions Act - Invalid's Pension, Carer's Allowance, and Medical Board Assessments — Ministry of Social Integration, Social Security and National Solidarity
4. [4]
   Mauritius Revenue Authority (MRA) - Financial Assistance, Social Benefits, and Pension Support — Mauritius Revenue Authority
5. [5]
   Ministry of Health and Wellness (Mauritius) - Hospital Services and Clinical Care — Ministry of Health and Wellness (Mauritius)
6. [6]
   Supreme Court of Mauritius - Master and Registrar and Civil Code Succession/Notarial Jurisdiction — The Judiciary / Supreme Court of Mauritius