The Bermuda Democratic Alliance (BDA) has questioned the cost and sustainability of the recently unveiled National Health Plan 2011.According to MP Shawn Crockwell, several questions immediately arose when reading the plan and need clarification, particularly relating to how universal access to basic health coverage will be financed.He said the plan was needed “in our current climate of spiraling health care costs” and said it was necessary to address the many individuals currently “falling through the cracks when it comes to health care provision”.However, the BDA expressed concern with the limited time it had to analyse the initiative before it is debated in the House of Assembly, perhaps as early as tomorrow, said Mr Crockwell.The National Health Plan was unveiled by Health Minister Zane DeSilva on Tuesday afternoon. It aims to address the high costs of health care and ensure all Bermuda residents have access to basic health coverage.The plan sets out 11 goals, including smarter use of overseas care, introducing an integrated IT system and encouraging health promotion that will make the system more equitable and sustainable.Both the BDA and United Bermuda Party praised the important initiative, but expressed concern about how it would be implemented.Shadow Health Minister Louise Jackson said the UBP was talking to industry stakeholders to get a better understanding of the impacts of the National Health Plan.Issuing a brief comment to this paper, she said: “We hope the plan will not repeat mistakes made in the formulation of FutureCare, where the politics of the idea took precedence over serious practical issues such as the economic sustainability of the programme.”Mr Crockwell said more clarification was needed as to how the goal will be realised for coverage contributions based on ability to pay.He said he hadn’t yet had the opportunity to fully review the plan, but added: “The following are questions that immediately come to mind: Are we looking towards a more socialised plan for health care in Bermuda? What are the anticipated costs in providing the basic level of health coverage anticipated? Will this be sustainable?“How will the universal access to basic coverage work with the current private health insurance plans in existence? Will individuals have potentially two levels of cover according to their ability to afford additional insurance? How does this plan envisage enacting controls, for example, with respect to costs of overseas health care? Will there be greater restrictions on access?He said there was no doubt the health care system was in need of reform, but said the reforms must be well thought through as they will “benefit not only Bermudians today but future generations to come.”