Alcon, the eyecare division of Novartis, said it would investigate claims it used fake clinical trials to bribe doctors in China, the latest in what has become a steady stream of corruption allegations against mostly foreign pharmaceutical groups in the country.

The allegations against Alcon, which involved directing funds through a middleman to pay doctors for post-marketing clinical trials that never took place, were reported yesterday by the 21st Century Business Herald, which has recently published a series of stories alleging foreign and local drug company corruption.

Chinese newspapers and CCTV, the official broadcaster, have publicised whistleblower claims alleging various forms of corruption in the healthcare industry since Beijing said it was investigating alleged bribery at GlaxoSmithKline two months ago.