India, June 5 -- Pregnant women visiting VN Desai Hospital in Santacruz are facing growing distress as the civic hospital's sonography services have been suspended for over a month due to the absence of a radiologist. As a result, expectant mothers, many from low-income households, are being forced to either travel to distant public hospitals or pay out-of-pocket for expensive scans at private diagnostic centres.

The disruption stems from a staffing crisis. According to hospital superintendent Dr Jayaraj Acharya, the radiologist previously employed at the facility left to pursue further studies abroad. "We advertised to fill the vacancy, but have not yet received a suitable candidate. Until then, we are referring patients to Bhabha Hospi...