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

1. 1

   Coordinating palliative care and hospital or home medical support

   • Clinical coordination and pain control: The family should establish a continuous care and symptom-control plan with the attending medical team at central or provincial hospitals within the National Health Service supervised by the Ministry of Health of Mozambique (Ministério da Saúde de Moçambique) or at private facilities, requesting detailed medical reports documenting the diagnosis and prescribed treatment [1].
   • Pain units and home care guidance: Major referral hospitals (such as Maputo Central Hospital, Beira Central Hospital, and Nampula Central Hospital) operate specialized oncology and pain-management units that guide families on safe home medication administration and complex symptom relief [1].
   • Maintaining an accessible clinical file at home: It is advisable to keep an updated physical folder containing medical reports, prescriptions, diagnostic test results, and direct contact details for the attending care team in case of an urgent medical need [1].
2. 2

   Advance medical directives, informed consent, and healthcare proxy

   • Written declaration of clinical preferences: Although Mozambican law does not yet provide a standalone national electronic living will registry, the person who is ill may rely on general rules of informed consent and patient rights recognized by the Ministry of Health of Mozambique to sign a written statement - with a signature notarized at a public notary office - setting out preferences regarding invasive interventions, artificial life support, and comfort care [1] [2].
   • Appointing a family medical spokesperson: While fully lucid, the person who is ill should designate a trusted family member in writing to act as companion and primary spokesperson before hospital management, requesting that this designation be recorded in the clinical file [1].
   • Authorization to obtain clinical documentation: It is advisable to sign an explicit written authorization allowing the designated relative to collect test results, prescriptions, and clinical reports needed for the National Health Board (Junta Nacional de Saúde) or private insurers [1] [4].
3. 3

   Executing a public power of attorney at a notary office and bank mandates

   • Notarial public power of attorney: While the person who is ill enjoys full civil capacity, they should visit a Notarial Office (Cartório Notarial) supervised by the National Directorate of Registries and Notary (Direcção Nacional dos Registos e Notariado) or book an appointment via the User Portal to execute a public power of attorney (procuração pública) granting specific powers for property administration, tax representation, and banking transactions to a trusted representative [2] [3].
   • Notarial attendance at home or in hospital: If the person who is ill has severe mobility limitations but remains fully lucid and able to understand the transaction, the family may request that a notary officer attend the residence or hospital ward to verify mental capacity and record the public power of attorney [2] [3].
   • Registering mandates with commercial banks: Because commercial banks in Mozambique enforce strict internal verification rules for powers of attorney, the appointed representative should present the public power of attorney directly at the patient's bank branch to update the signature card while the account holder can confirm the mandate [2] [3].
4. 4

   Claiming sickness or disability benefits and caregiver support

   • Disability pension and sickness allowance: If the person who is ill is a worker registered under Mandatory Social Security and becomes permanently unable to work due to a non-occupational illness, they may apply for a disability pension (pensão por invalidez) from the National Social Security Institute (Instituto Nacional de Segurança Social), provided they meet the statutory qualifying period (specifically at least 30 months of contributions within the 5 years preceding the onset of incapacity) [4].
   • Certification by the National Health Board: A disability pension claim submitted to the National Social Security Institute must be accompanied by the National Identity Card (Bilhete de Identidade), beneficiary card, Bank Identification Number (NIB), and the Certificate of the National Health Board (Certificado da Junta Nacional de Saúde) together with a detailed medical report [1] [4].
   • Protecting household dependents: Ensuring that contribution records and dependent registrations (spouse or recognized de facto partner and minor or student children) are up to date with the National Social Security Institute also safeguards future household entitlements [4] [5].
5. 5

   Preventive preparation of wills, insurance beneficiaries, and property records

   • Public or sealed will: To dispose validly of assets within the disposable portion (quota disponível) permitted by the Civil Code in force in Mozambique (while respecting the forced share reserved for statutory heirs such as a spouse, descendants, or ascendants), the person who is ill may execute a public will (testamento público) in the notarial register of a Notarial Office under the National Directorate of Registries and Notary, or present a sealed will (testamento cerrado) for notarial approval in the presence of two witnesses [2] [3].
   • Reviewing insurance policies and civil documents: It is advisable to check the validity of the National Identity Card, gather updated birth and marriage certificates, organize property deeds or Land Use and Benefit Right titles (DUAT), and verify named beneficiaries on life insurance policies [2] [3].
   • Cross-border coordination of assets or heirs: If there are assets or heirs abroad, powers of attorney or testamentary instruments executed in Mozambique should be legalized through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation and the relevant consulate to ensure cross-border enforceability [2] [3].

Official Authorities & Verified Contacts

Official Sources Checked by Clarvia

1. [1]
   Official Portal of the Ministry of Health of Mozambique (MISAU) - National Health Service and Health Board — Ministério da Saúde de Moçambique
2. [2]
   National Directorate of Registries and Notary - Civil Registration System and Notarial Services — Ministério da Justiça, Assuntos Constitucionais e Religiosos (MJCR)
3. [3]
   User Portal for Registry and Notary Services — Ministério da Justiça, Assuntos Constitucionais e Religiosos (MJCR)
4. [4]
   Disability Pension - Requirements, Qualifying Period and National Health Board Certification — Instituto Nacional de Segurança Social de Moçambique (INSS)
5. [5]
   Family Social Protection and Survivor Pension — Instituto Nacional de Segurança Social de Moçambique (INSS)