Access to healthcare services for the Rohingya with noncommunicable diseases in Rohingya refugee camps of Bangladesh

Background Displaced communities who faced mass atrocities and are forced to migrate from home country are at risk of facing significant barriers to healthcare access that result in poor health outcomes. In this study we aimed to assess the health facilities inside the Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh and to understand the barriers to access existing health facilities by the refugee patients with NCDs within the camps. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted involving face-to-face interviews with 430 self-identified Rohingya patients with one or more noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, musculoskeletal disorders, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease from 25 makeshift camps in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. Results Among the participants, 65.8% had musculoskeletal disorders, while 55.8% reported having more than one NCD. Within the camps, major healthcare-seeking points included health posts (87.5%) and pharmacies (59.4%), while 43.8% reported seeking care from traditional healers. A total of 94.2% of respondents reported a lack of services in the existing healthcare setups. Major barriers to access to healthcare facilities included lack of imaging facilities (99.0%), laboratory tests (75.0%) and specialized doctors (43.1%), stigma (20.2%), experiencing unpleasant behaviors (17%), mistrust, lack of free medication, and higher out-of-pocket expenses. Approximately 76% of the respondents did not have the capacity to travel far for better healthcare access. Outreach health services targeting NCDs are hardly available in the camps. Conclusion The results indicated that access to healthcare and health education remains consistently limited for patients with NCDs in Rohingya camp settlements. Thus, changes are required to facilitate NCD-care.