Hospitals in China have used an unusual way to encourage schoolboys to be circumcised.

According to reports, private clinics offered discounts on circumcision surgery based on the patient's level in 'King of Glory', a hugely popular video game that's been billed as the 'internet heroin'.

According to the advertisements put out by three hospitals in different parts of China, patients who could reach the highest level in the game would be able to receive the surgery for free.

Guigang Wuzhou Hospital offered discounted or even free surgery to patients according to their rankings in game

Patients at Baotou Jiuzhou Urology Hospital can have a £23 off discount if they were entitled 'silver' in ranking (left) Stand-up banner can be seen putting at the entrance of Jiangjin Ren'ai Hospital in Chongqing (right)

The news was featured on various Chinese news websites after a video showing a little boy playing a video game during surgery became viral.

The footage, shared by different Chinese outlets including Youku, shows the child lying on an operating table with hands on a mobile phone and eyes focused on the screen.

It's believed the boy was undergoing a circumcision, according to gooread.com.

Two surgeons can be seen performing on the boy while he was playing the game.

Web users suggested that the boy was playing 'King of Glory', a popular multi-player online battle game as they recognised the sound effects in the background, according to reports on iFeng and Sohu.

However, the reports did not explain if the boy was playing the game as a distraction or to earn a discount.

Footage shows a young boy allegedly playing 'King of Glory' while having a circumcision surgery in a Chinese hospital (left). Doctors performed the surgery as he played (right)

It's suggested the boy was injected local anaesthesia during the surgery (left). The boy could receive a free surgery if he reached top in ranking (right)

Launched by Chinese internet giant Tencent, 'King of Glory' has 80 million daily users.

According to KK News, hospitals in China saw business opportunities in the popularity of 'King of Glory'.

Medical organisations reportedly launched discount promotions on circumcision surgery in summer, during the two-month school break in China.

In China, the price for a circumcision operation starts from about 1,000 yuan (£114).

'King of Glory', designed by internet giant Tencent, had drawn players from all age to play

The smartphone smash hit has over 80 million users playing on a daily basis (file photo)

MailOnline collected digital flyers from three hospitals, the Guigang Wuzhou Hospital in Guangxi, the Jiangjin Ren'ai Hospital in Chongqing and the Baotou Jiuzhou Urology Hospital in Inner Mongolia, which all claimed to offer the deal.

One of them, the Jiangjin Ren'ai Hospital, was seen putting a stand-up banner next to its entrance to announce the details of the discounts.

The advertisement said the patient could receive a minimum discount of 200 yuan (£23) off if he reaches a 'Silver' status; and if the patient gains the highest 'King' title, he could receive the free circumcision surgery free of charge.

Baotou Jiuzhou Urology Hospital in north China posted a similar promotion on their official Wechat account.

One member of staff told MailOnline that the promotion was only available during summer. However, she declined to comment on the deal further.

It's not sure if any other hospitals are still offering the promotion.