Kathmandu, July 29 -- Hundreds of thousands of Nepalis were deprived of medical care on Tuesday as doctors across the country boycotted services except emergency care to protest against rising incidents of assaults and verbal abuses against health workers.

The nationwide protest of medical doctors was triggered by a Saturday incident at Narayani Hospital in Birgunj, where Dr Pramod Ram was assaulted. After the death of a 45-year-old heart patient in the hospital's emergency ward, relatives of the patient stormed the hospital, vandalised property and attacked and terrorised doctors and health workers.

The injured Dr Ram was brought to Kathmandu and admitted to the National Trauma Centre. Doctors say he is out of danger.

The Nepal Medica...