The KwaZulu-Natal health department said paroled fraudster Schabir Shaik's doctor, Professor DP Naidoo, had been misquoted, the SABC reported on Monday.

"DP Naidoo had been saying he was discharging Schabir Shaik but to the department of correctional services. Not to say he was fit and well. He wasn't getting any better [under care].

"He was then discharged because everything that could be done had been done," said KwaZulu-Natal health department Chief Operations Officer Nhlanhla Nkosi.

On Sunday, the Sunday Times reported that Naidoo had discharged Shaik from Chief Albert Luthuli hospital in November.

The paper reported that the departments of correctional services and health then intervened to keep Shaik in the hospital ward until his medical parole was granted last week.

Sapa