On December 15, 2025, nursing officers at Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS), Hyderabad, were briefly stopped from moving within the hospital campus. Hospital authorities directed security to lock the gates during a small, quiet rally planned by the NIMS Nursing Union. The union has been holding a peaceful black badge protest for a week to highlight unresolved service and welfare issues. "We were not stepping out of the hospital. Despite this, the Director and Medical Superintendent instructed security guards to lock the gates and prevent us from moving," said Krishna, General Secretary of the NIMS Nursing Union. Nurses were briefly locked near the billing section but the situation improved after hospital officials invited union leaders for talks. "Some representatives were asked to come in for negotiations. During the talks, the management told us that the issues would have to be taken up with the Health Minister and that an appointment would be arranged," Krishna added. Concerned about patient care, the union asked all nurses to resume duty immediately. The protest aims to press for better workload management, restoration of medical services to contract nurses' parents, filling vacant posts, earned leave encashment, cadre review, and proper pay and status for lecturers in the NIMS Nursing College and their spouses, matching AIIMS scales. Other demands include service benefits, promotions, staffing needs, and welfare facilities. The union stressed the need to implement earned leave encashment approved by the NIMS Executive Board and enhanced gratuity of ₹16 lakh as per government order. It also sought three months maternity leave for female staff as mandated by law, pointing out these remain unfulfilled despite repeated requests.