A senior gynaecologist at V N Desai Hospital claimed that its medical superintendent and head of the obstetrics unit are playing political games with doctors, while critical obstetrics care is severely impacted. She has also alleged gross negligence in a recent maternal mortality reported at BYL Nair Hospital transferred from VN Desai, in a mail to the chief minister’s office. She has requested immediate intervention by authorities to protect the lives of mothers and children at the hospital. The medical superintendent of VN Desai Hospital, however, claimed that while there is a rift between doctors, her other claims are false.

To lower the burden on tertiary care hospitals, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)  started Diplomate National Board (DNB) courses to strengthen its peripheral hospitals. The BMC hired multiple specialist teachers - doctors to teach DNB students and treat patients with severe illnesses. VN Desai in Santacruz is one of the peripheral hospitals which has the DNB courses in orthopaedics, pediatrics, and obstetrics and gynaecology to provide better services.