Johannesburg — Eastern Cape health officials are probing allegations of fraud and corruption in their department, spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said on Wednesday.

He said the investigation had so far resulted in a number of officials resigning or being fired after internal disciplinary proceedings.

"We also uncovered scams where officials were allegedly awarding tenders to themselves and their friends," Kupelo said.

"Their modus operandi was to produce quotations from their offices and produce fraudulent tax certificates in order to comply with government procurement policy."

Service providers overcharging the department were also exposed.

"Action against these scams saved the department millions of rands.

Today we pride ourselves for acting decisively against allegations of maladministration, fraud and corruption."

He said the department had spent R3 billion on building clinics and hospitals over the past three years.

"Specialist doctors were also employed permanently to serve in the three big hospitals of the province, Mthatha, Port Elizabeth and East London."

Twenty-two more doctors were recruited to serve in various hospitals in the rural areas. He said the province had been allocated R119 million from the national health department to recruit specialists who would be sent to various parts of the province.