As the scandal associated with the Veterans Administration hospitals unfolds, Kristen Paul Bonifacio (Opinions Editor for the University of Hawaii’s The Voice of Kaleo) asserts that the agency should have acted earlier…especially in relation to the conditions at one of its Hawaii facilities.

In recent months, scandal has rocked VA medical centers around the nation. Details have emerged revealing the long wait time for medical appointments experienced by many new veterans. Allegations have also developed that records were altered to cover up the actual wait time.

This issue is embarrassing, and a disgrace to the millions of veterans living in our nation. Proper remedies are needed to ensure that US veterans are provided the adequate care that they deserve.

An audit conducted at the 731 VA hospitals and outpatient clinics in the country found that Hawai‘i’s own VA medical center, the Spark M. Matsunaga VA Medical Center, had the longest wait time for new veterans with an average of 145 days.

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz said his office received information that staff members at the Spark M. Matsunaga VA Medical Center were asked to clean their computers regarding patient wait times. He has sent a letter to Richard Griffin, the acting Inspector General for the country’s VA system, to look into the matter.

Other local politicians have also voiced their concerns regarding the scandals at our states VA centers. U.S. Representative Tulsi Gabbard has called for the resignation of the director of the VA Pacific Islands Health Care System, Wayne Pfeffer, calling him dishonest.

During a briefing, on June 5, Pfeffer told congressional staff members that the wait time for new veterans at the Spark M. Matsunaga center was about 30 days. Another member of Pfeffer’s staff also confirmed that the wait time was between 30-50 days.

When the audit by the VA came out four days later and revealed a 145 days waiting period for our state’s VA medical center, U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard said she contacted Pfetter and inquired about errors in his statement during the June 5 briefing. She said that he denied saying that the wait time was between 30-45 days.

…The misconduct and scandals that have been discovered within our nation’s VA health system are unacceptable and it presents a negative image to the world about how we treat our military veterans. Action is especially needed here in Hawai‘i where our VA medical center has the longest wait time for new veterans.

Furthermore, with a strong military presence in our state, this information not only stains the image of nation, but that of our island as well. It is a reflection of how little we value the service of thousands of men and women.