Government has hit back at claims the National Health Plan is lacking in detail and yesterday assured the public the process would remain transparent.Permanent Secretary Kevin Monkman, of the Health Ministry, said the Island was only in the first phase of an ongoing consultation period.According to Mr Monkman, the public has been given a chance to submit its views on these “broad concepts” by tomorrow’s deadline.After that the Ministry will finalise what goals should be set to improve the Island’s high-cost healthcare system, which ranks as the second most expensive in the world, behind the United States.A task group will later be set up to determine what will be included in basic health care and how much it would cost, Mr Monkman said.Throughout the process there will be further communication with stakeholders and the public, added Bermuda Health Council CEO Jennifer Attride Stirling.The National Health Plan was unveiled by Health Minister Zane DeSilva in February. It lists 11 recommendations to create a more equitable and sustainable healthcare system.Included are goals to provide universal access to health coverage to all Bermuda residents and ensure health coverage contributions are based on ability to pay.Since its introduction hundreds of people have voiced both support and concern; with dozens formally submitting responses to the BHeC and others expressing their views on Facebook or at public meetings held by the Ministry.One woman wrote on a Facebook group entitled the ‘Bermuda National Health Plan A Discussion’: “I agree that more information needs to be shared. As of now, I don’t like the idea of being forced into this form of healthcare. I would prefer to excercise my right to choose what I do with my money.”Another person wrote: “I think everyone should have basic care, and those of us who can afford better cover or if your jobs want to give us extra, then great.“But if you develop cancer or are born with a condition, any human being deserves to have medical care.”Dr Attride Stirling said by first identifying the goals, and later ironing out the details, it provided the Ministry with the most “transparent and economically sound way of doing things”. Mr Monkman said this process helped Government to forego spending huge amounts of cash up-front.Dr Attride Stirling said: “We could have done this the other way around and do the financial modelling first. It would have taken at least two or three years for all the data and at the end of the day we would have produced a 1,000 page report.“People would have also been critical of that as Government would have already made all the decisions without their input.“If you dot the i’s and cross the t’s then obviously you are probably going to be pretty tied to the specific plan and so what we have done is try to be as inclusive as possible and found out ‘how does Bermuda feel about this?.”In an advertisement the Ministry have addressed some frequently asked questions, including where the money will come from to cover more people with health insurance?The Ad states: “From making smarter use of existing resources and eliminating waste. In 2009 the health system cost $558 million. We know some of that was waste, such as medically unnecessary tests, excessive use of expensive technologies and resources etc. We are confident that the 6,500 people with no insurance can be covered by making smarter use of resources.”The statement read the reforms would not make health costs more expensive for employers and said one of its main goals was to “ease the burden on employers and businesses”.It said that by making health coverage affordable and slowing down the rise in health costs, employers’ would get a “much-needed break”.According to the Ad, the Plan will not see eight to 12 percent of a person’s salary go toward the Plan. “The financial analysis will determine the right level of contribution in due course.”People can send written feedback on the Plan to healthcouncil[AT]bhec.bm. They can also comment via a hotline on 278-4960. For more information visit www.gov.bm.