Needs, opportunities, and barriers of interprofessional and intersectoral collaboration for healthy aging in Rohingya refugee camps

Purpose The aging population within the Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, faces distinct vulnerabilities, including a high burden of noncommunicable diseases, functional impairments, and psychosocial distress, exacerbated by displacement and resource scarcity. The purpose of this review to explore the necessity, opportunities, and barriers of interprofessional (IP) and intersectoral (IS) collaboration for healthy aging in Rohingya refugee camps. Design/methodology/approach It was a narrative review approach to combine the available data on the needs, opportunities, and barriers of IP and IS collaboration for healthy aging in Rohingya refugee camps. The collected information was examined and synthesized using a theme narrative approach, and the findings were divided into four categories: Specific needs of aged Rohingya refugees, opportunities for IP and IS collaboration, challenges and implementation barriers, and responsibilities and implementation strategies for IPC and ISC. Findings The article discussed how coordinated action among health, rehabilitation, social care, and humanitarian sectors presents a critical opportunity to deliver holistic, person-centered care and create age-friendly camp environments. However, significant barriers—including fragmented coordination, limited geriatric expertise, sociocultural and linguistic hurdles, and short-term funding cycles—impede implementation. It also presented that sustainable, dignified aging in protracted displacement settings like Rohingya refugee camps requires humanitarian policy and practice to prioritize integrated, collaborative approaches underpinned by sustained investment and evidence-based adaptation. Originality/value A proposed collaborative framework outlines specific roles for diverse professionals and sectors, from clinical care to community supports for healthy aging in Rohingya refugee camps.