Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad’s Asarwa area has introduced a dedicated QR code-based payment system for liquor permit applications following the detection of an alleged embezzlement case involving permit-related transactions, hospital officials said on Wednesday.
According to authorities, payments for services such as liquor permits, X-rays, sonography and CT scans were previously collected through a common QR code. The arrangement came under scrutiny after three employees of an outsourced agency were accused of misappropriating more than ₹1.80 lakh instead of depositing the amount into the Patient Welfare Committee fund.
Officials said the use of a single QR code for multiple services made it difficult to track transactions and identify the department associated with a particular payment, creating opportunities for misuse.
To strengthen transparency and accountability, the hospital has now introduced separate payment arrangements. Under the revised system, payments for liquor permits, X-rays, sonography and CT scans will be deposited directly into the Patient Welfare Committee account, significantly reducing the possibility of embezzlement.
Hospital records show that between January 2024 and January 2026, a total of 1,248 fresh liquor permit applications were received, while 5,922 applications were submitted for renewal during the same period.
Of the applications processed, 7,045 were approved, while 29 were rejected due to various reasons, officials added.