Surkhet, June 26 -- Junior doctors working at the Surkhet-based Karnali Provincial Hospital have stopped reporting on duty, except during emergencies after the government denied them their encouragement allowance.

In January, the provincial Cabinet had decided to provide encouragement allowances to government employees in the province. Although medical specialists of ninth, tenth and eleventh class have been receiving encouragement allowances since January, eighth class medical officers have not received the amount yet.

"The government declared an encouragement allowance for doctors. But we haven't been given the allowance yet," said Dr Prakashraj Oli, a protesting doctor. "Other doctors belonging to the ninth, tenth and eleventh levels...