Terminal Illness & End-of-Life Planning in Papua New Guinea: 5-Step Official Checklist

1. 1

   Coordinate Specialist Hospital, Palliative Care, and Health Coverage

   • Hospital and palliative care services: Coordinate oncology, chronic-disease, and supportive symptom-management care through Port Moresby General Hospital, Angau Memorial Provincial Hospital in Lae, or the relevant Provincial Health Authority hospital overseen by the National Department of Health, alongside accredited church health services and cancer support clinics [6]. Ask the attending specialist physician for a comprehensive written clinical summary (Medical Diagnosis and Prognosis Report) and an outpatient pain-relief and home-care plan [6].
   • Public health fee policies and private medical insurance: Public hospitals under the National Department of Health provide subsidized inpatient and outpatient care for citizens, while employees in the public service or formal corporate sector may also hold group medical and critical-illness insurance (such as through Nambawan Super health partners, BSP Life, or Pacific Assurance Group) [4] [5] [6]. Contact any private health insurer early to pre-authorize inpatient treatment or overseas medical evacuation if required.
2. 2

   Record Advance Healthcare Preferences and Designate a Medical Representative

   • Informed consent and comfort-focused care goals: Under the clinical governance standards of the National Department of Health and common-law principles recognized by the National Court of Justice, an adult patient who retains full mental capacity has the right to give or withhold informed consent to invasive medical or surgical interventions and to request comfort-focused palliative treatment [3] [6].
   • Written Advance Care Directive and Medical Proxy: Although Papua New Guinea does not have a standalone living-will statute, your family member can sign a written Advance Care Directive and Medical Proxy statement while mentally competent, naming a primary adult family representative (Next of Kin / Designated Medical Decision-Maker) and an alternate to consult with hospital doctors if your family member later becomes unable to communicate [3] [6].
   • Clinical capacity verification in hospital records: Request that the attending medical officer at the Provincial Health Authority hospital record a dated note in the clinical chart confirming that your family member is alert, oriented, and of sound mind at the time they sign medical directives, powers of attorney, or superannuation forms [3] [6].
3. 3

   Execute Powers of Attorney and Bank Mandates While Capacity Is Intact

   • Formal Power of Attorney: Under Papua New Guinean common-law agency rules and statutory property legislation overseen by the National Court of Justice, an adult with full legal capacity may execute a written Power of Attorney (Deed of Power of Attorney) witnessed by a qualified Lawyer or a Commissioner for Oaths appointing a trusted representative to manage financial affairs, business tax filings, and personal property [3]. If the Power of Attorney authorizes dealings with registered State land leases, it must also be lodged for registration with the Registrar of Titles at the Department of Lands and Physical Planning [3].
   • Commercial bank mandates: Commercial banks operating in Papua New Guinea (BSP Financial Group, Kina Bank, and Westpac PNG) generally require account holders to sign the bank's own third-party signatory or mandate form in person (or via verified hospital visit) accompanied by valid National Identification (NID) cards [2] [3]. Arrange joint or authorized signatory access while your family member is able to verify their identity directly.
   • Cross-border document legalization: Because Papua New Guinea is not a contracting party to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention, any Power of Attorney executed in Papua New Guinea for use abroad (or executed outside Papua New Guinea for use before local banks or the National Court of Justice) must be notarized and authenticated through the Department of Foreign Affairs and the relevant foreign embassy or High Commission in Port Moresby [1] [2] [3].
4. 4

   Activate Superannuation Medical Incapacity Withdrawals and Leave Benefits

   • Total and Permanent Incapacity superannuation claim (Nambawan Super and Nasfund): Under the Superannuation (General Provisions) Act 2000, contributors to Nambawan Super Limited or the National Superannuation Fund (Nasfund) who become permanently and totally incapacitated by a serious or terminal illness (physical or mental incapacity preventing the member from ever engaging in gainful employment) can apply for an early full withdrawal of their accumulated superannuation balance [4] [5]. The application requires a completed Medical Incapacity Claim Form supported by formal medical certificates from two registered medical practitioners approved by the National Department of Health [4] [5] [6].
   • Paid sick leave and public service medical retirement: Under the Employment Act 1978 and Public Service General Orders, formal-sector employees are entitled to paid sick leave and accrued recreational or long-service leave upon presentation of a medical certificate [4]. Public servants facing permanent life-limiting illness may also undergo a National Department of Health Medical Board assessment (medical boarding-out) to access early medical retirement entitlements through their department and Nambawan Super Limited [4] [5] [6].
5. 5

   Organize Wills, Superannuation Nominations, NID Records, and Customary Property

   • Executing a statutory Will under the Wills, Probate and Administration Act 1966: Under the Wills, Probate and Administration Act 1966 (Chapter 291), an adult of sound mind may execute a formal written Will signed by the testator in the presence of two independent attesting witnesses (neither of whom should be a beneficiary or spouse of a beneficiary) [3]. A statutory Will governs modern non-customary assets (such as bank accounts, vehicles, company shares, and registered State land leases) that otherwise pass under statutory intestacy rules administered by the National Court of Justice or the Office of the Public Curator [3].
   • Distinguishing customary (Kastom) land and property: Under the Wills, Probate and Administration Act 1966 (Chapter 291), customary land and traditional clan property in Papua New Guinea cannot be devised by a statutory Will contrary to local custom; instead, they pass according to the applicable matrilineal or patrilineal clan rules (Kastom) [3]. It is advisable for your family member to record clear family understandings with clan elders regarding customary obligations alongside their written statutory Will for modern assets [3].
   • Updating Superannuation Beneficiary Nominations (Section 89 Nominees) and NID registration: Because superannuation funds in Nambawan Super Limited and Nasfund are disbursed directly to the member's registered nominees outside court probate, your family member should review and sign an updated Superannuation Nomination Form while capacity is intact [4] [5]. At the same time, verify that your family member, their spouse, and all nominated children hold official Birth Certificates, Marriage Certificates, and National Identification (NID) cards issued by the Papua New Guinea Civil and Identity Registry under the Civil Registration Act 1963 (Chapter 304), as valid NID identification is strictly required by superannuation boards and banks to release funds [1] [2] [5].

   Step	Deadline	Authority
   1. Specialist & palliative care coordination	Immediately upon diagnosis	National Department of Health (Provincial Health Authority Hospital)
   2. Advance Care Directive & Medical Proxy	While full mental capacity is intact	Attending Physician & Hospital Medical Records
   3. Power of Attorney & bank signatory mandates	Before any decline in legal capacity	Lawyer / Commissioner for Oaths & commercial banks
   4. Superannuation medical incapacity claim	Upon certification by two medical practitioners	Nambawan Super Limited / Nasfund
   5. Statutory Will, Superannuation Nomination & NID	While capacity is intact	National Court of Justice, Nambawan Super Limited & Papua New Guinea Civil and Identity Registry

Official Authorities & Verified Contacts

Official Sources Checked by Clarvia

1. [1]
   Civil Registration Act 1963 (Chapter 304) - Independent State of Papua New Guinea — Pacific Islands Legal Information Institute (PacLII)
2. [2]
   Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) Country Profile: Papua New Guinea (PNGCIR / NID) — UNICEF Data / Papua New Guinea Civil and Identity Registry
3. [3]
   Wills, Probate and Administration Act 1966 (Chapter 291) - Independent State of Papua New Guinea — Pacific Islands Legal Information Institute (PacLII)
4. [4]
   Social Security Programs Throughout the World: Asia and the Pacific - Papua New Guinea (Incapacity and Superannuation) — U.S. Social Security Administration / International Social Security Association
5. [5]
   Nambawan Super Limited - Member Medical Incapacity Withdrawals and Beneficiary Nominations — Nambawan Super Limited (Papua New Guinea)
6. [6]
   World Health Organization Country Profile: Papua New Guinea Health System — World Health Organization (WHO)