The Government maintains that Rohingya refugees are only temporarily in Bangladesh on humanitarian grounds and therefore they should not be included in any national plans/systems. The same approach applies to the social protection system.

Refugees can freely access curative and preventative health care facilities in the refugee camps provided as part of the humanitarian response, and following a minimum package of primary healthcare services, derived from the applicable national package. These health facilities also serve people in the surrounding host communities, with the possibility of referral to the district hospital in Cox’s Bazar, (namely Ukhia Health Complex, Teknaf Health Complex, Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital and Chittagong Medical College Hospital). Primary medical care is provided in the refugee camps, and there is a referral mechanism to refer refugees to the government-run hospitals for secondary and tertiary level medical treatments where necessary and funds permitting. 

As an exception to the general policy, the March 2020 National Preparedness and Response Plan for COVID-19 for Bangladesh noted the significant presence of Rohingya, recognized by the Government as ‘Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals’, in its Country Profile section, which was considered an inclusive and positive development. In practice, Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar District can access Government-run testing and medical treatment facilities and are treated without discrimination when receiving COVID-19-related services.