The world's largest ophthalmic drug producer, Alcon, reportedly offered bribes to hundreds of Chinese doctors, according to 21st Century Business Herald.

A whistleblower, under the pseudonym "Zoro", told the newspaper Monday that Alcon employees bribed doctors at more than 200 hospitals across the country.

The payments were recorded as "research fees or experimental expenses" after six types of intraocular lens were launched onto the market, Restor, Toric, IQ, Duovisc, Intrepid and Cachet.

The hospitals named include several of the most famous in China, such as Beijing 301 Military Hospital, Tongren Hospital, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Shanghai Ruijin Hospital and Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital.

An Intraocular lens is a high-value medical device, and manufacturers set prices independently. Alcon's products are very expensive in the Chinese mainland market.

The whistleblower said, "Take Alcon's most popular product AcrySof IQ as an example. The price of the product is HKD1,200 in Hong Kong (about 948 yuan), and 3,800 yuan in Chinese mainland."

"The huge price gap allows for kickback and bribery," the whistleblower said.

When the article went to print, the company had not given a response.

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