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

1. 1

   Coordinating Palliative Care and Mandatory Health Insurance (AMO) Coverage

   • Referral to palliative care and pain management units: Ask the attending specialist to refer your family member to the palliative care and pain management unit of a University Hospital Center (Centre Hospitalier Universitaire - CHU in Rabat, Casablanca, Marrakech, Fes, Tangier, or Oujda) or a regional oncology center under the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, in order to manage symptoms either during hospitalization or through coordinated home care [1].
   • Coverage for a Long-Term Illness (ALD) or Severe and Costly Condition (ALC): Under Morocco's Mandatory Health Insurance (Assurance Maladie Obligatoire - AMO), the treating physician should submit a medical application for Long-Term Illness (Affection de Longue Durée - ALD) or Severe and Costly Condition (Affection Lourde et Coûteuse - ALC) status to the National Social Security Fund (Caisse Nationale de Sécurité Sociale - CNSS for private-sector employees, self-employed workers, and AMO Tadamon beneficiaries) or to the National Fund of Social Welfare Organizations (CNOPS for the public sector), in accordance with the coverage rules outlined by the Center for European and International Social Security Liaisons (Centre des Liaisons Européennes et Internationales de Sécurité Sociale - CLEISS) [1][2].
   • Co-payment exemption and prior authorization: Approval of ALD or ALC status by the medical control service of the National Social Security Fund or CNOPS entitles the patient to enhanced reimbursement or full exemption from the statutory co-payment (ticket modérateur, often up to 100% of the national reference tariff) for hospitalizations, oncology protocols, radiotherapy, and high-cost medications covered under third-party direct billing (tiers payant) [1][2].
2. 2

   Recording Written Medical Preferences and Designating a Healthcare Contact

   • Written statement of informed medical consent: Although Moroccan statutory law does not maintain a centralized national living will registry, any adult patient with full decision-making capacity may write and sign a statement expressing their preferences regarding palliative support, pain management, home care versus hospitalization, and informed consent or refusal regarding invasive medical interventions [1][3].
   • Formally designating a primary family contact with the medical team: While the ill person is able to express their wishes clearly, it is advisable to designate in writing a trusted family member as the primary healthcare contact (proche référent) with the CHU or private clinic care team, attaching a copy of their Electronic National Identity Card (CNIE) and civil status proof of family relationship obtained through the National Civil Registration Portal (Portail national de l'état civil) [3][4].
   • Inclusion in the hospital medical file: Provide a signed copy of these written preferences to the attending physician and the head of the hospital department so that they are placed directly in the patient's medical chart and can guide discussions between doctors and the family if the illness later prevents direct communication [1].
3. 3

   Executing Bank Mandates and Authentic Powers of Attorney (Wakala)

   • Special or general power of attorney (Wakala) before two adouls or a notary: To prevent administrative procedures or property management from being blocked if physical or cognitive incapacity occurs, the ill person may, while retaining full legal capacity, execute an authentic power of attorney (Wakala) before two sworn adouls (an adoulaire deed homologated by the notarization judge at the Court of First Instance) or before a notary in Morocco [3][5]. The instrument must specify the exact powers granted to the representative, such as administrative representation, real estate management, or document collection [5].
   • Bank powers of attorney with Moroccan financial institutions: In practice, Moroccan banks usually require the account holder to sign the branch's internal bank power of attorney form in person (or provide a specific adoulaire or notarial power of attorney explicitly citing the account number and authorized banking transactions) while mental capacity is intact [5].
   • Consular powers of attorney and cross-border legalization via Consulat.ma: When an appointed representative or family member lives abroad, or when a power of attorney must take effect between Morocco and another country, the deed can be executed before the notarial and adoulaire services of a Moroccan consulate via the Consulat.ma portal or authenticated with a Hague Apostille under the procedures of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates [5][6].
4. 4

   Activating Disability Benefits, Sickness Allowances, and Caregiver Leave

   • Daily sickness allowances and disability pension (CNSS and public schemes): When an employee insured with the National Social Security Fund must stop working due to a serious illness, they may claim daily sickness allowances (indemnités journalières de maladie) and subsequently, if medically certified as permanently and totally incapacitated for work before reaching statutory retirement age while meeting contribution requirements, apply for a disability pension (pension d'invalidité) from the National Social Security Fund (or from the Moroccan Pension Fund - CMR for civil servants), as detailed by the Center for European and International Social Security Liaisons [1][2].
   • Constant attendance supplement (majoration pour tierce personne): If a recipient of a disability pension requires the permanent assistance of a third person to perform basic activities of daily living, Moroccan social security regulations provide for a specific pension supplement subject to medical verification [1].
   • Family leave and workplace accommodations for caregivers: Employed family members in Morocco who care for the ill person may request authorized family absence leave or use annual leave entitlements under the Moroccan Labor Code and applicable collective bargaining agreements upon presenting official hospital medical certificates [1][6].
5. 5

   Advance Organization of Civil Status Documents, Wills, and Estate Records

   • Rules governing wills (Wassiya) under the Moudawana: While the ill person retains full legal capacity, they may consult two adouls or a notary to organize the transmission of their estate [5]. Under Moroccan law (Family Code - Moudawana), a bequest by will (Wassiya) is legally capped at one-third (1/3) of the net estate and cannot be made in favor of a statutory heir unless the other adult heirs expressly consent after the succession opens (for foreign nationals residing in Morocco, a notary should verify the applicable national law and prepare an authentic or international will) [5].
   • Reviewing life insurance beneficiaries and social security files: Review and update in writing the beneficiary designations on life insurance, death-benefit, or supplementary retirement savings contracts, and gather contribution statements and registration numbers with the National Social Security Fund or CMR to simplify future family formalities [1][2].
   • Verifying civil status records and land registry titles: Order and verify full copies of birth and marriage certificates as well as the family record book (livret de famille) through the National Civil Registration Portal so that any spelling discrepancies in Arabic or Latin script can be rectified in advance [3][4]. Likewise, compile property ownership certificates issued by the National Agency for Land Conservation, Cadastre and Cartography (ANCFCC) and use the consular services on Consulat.ma if family members or estate assets are located abroad [5][6].

Official Authorities & Verified Contacts

Official Sources Checked by Clarvia

1. [1]
   The Moroccan Social Security System: Sickness, Maternity, Disability, and Survivors — Centre des Liaisons Européennes et Internationales de Sécurité Sociale (CLEISS)
2. [2]
   Social Benefits and Pensions of the National Social Security Fund in Morocco — Caisse Nationale de Sécurité Sociale (CNSS)
3. [3]
   Moroccan Civil Status Guide and Administrative Procedures — Portail national de l'état civil (Ministère de l'Intérieur du Maroc)
4. [4]
   Issuance of Full Copies and Extracts of Civil Status Certificates in Morocco — Portail national de l'état civil (alhalalmadania.ma)
5. [5]
   Consular Services Portal of the Kingdom of Morocco: Powers of Attorney, Adoulaire Acts, and Legalizations — Ministère des Affaires étrangères, de la Coopération africaine et des Marocains résidant à l'étranger (Consulat.ma)
6. [6]
   Social Support and Assistance Program for Moroccan Citizens — Ministère des Affaires étrangères, de la Coopération africaine et des Marocains résidant à l'étranger