India, Nov. 22 -- Essential medical services have been disrupted at two peripheral hospitals under the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) this week due to shortage of staff and doctors shirking from performing assigned duties.

At the Manohar Waman (MW) Desai Hospital in Malad, at least two patients who required simple stitches were referred to a higher centre, while at the Bharatratna Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Municipal General Hospital in Kandivali, better known as Shatabdi hospital, Electrocardiogram (ECG) services have been unavailable for at least three days, affecting outpatient services and those awaiting surgery.

A 22-year-old man who visited the MW Desai Hospital in the second week of November seeking treatment for a hand inju...