Health coalitions called for an end to Grifols’ paid plasma operations in Canada

Health coalitions across the country are calling for an end to Grifols’ paid plasma operations in Canada after two people in Winnipeg died after donating plasma at two Grifols locations, and they say another person is suing the operation for kidney damage after giving plasma.

“At this point, I think really families of the people who have been harmed and who died, their communities and the whole community of people who are reliant on blood and blood products absolutely need some answers and some accountability, and it’s still has not happened.”

The Canadian Health Coalition says plasma donors are often younger, lower income, and financially vulnerable, and the people who are giving plasma just to make ends meet, that isn’t a donation; they are calling that economic pressure.

“So we’re here with very clear demands, and you’re going to hear all of us speaking and how we’re all together on this, but we need to return to a system based on voluntary nonpaid plasma donation as recommended in the Krieger Commission. We need to end for-profit plasma collection in Canada and bring it fully back into the public system under the Canadian Blood Services. No more secret deals when it comes to our blood supply, the agreement between Canadian blood services in Grifols must be made public. Finally, we need stronger oversight, better data, and real accountability to ensure that donor safety is never compromised,“ said Siobhan Vipond, the vice chair of the Canadian Health Coalition.

Advocates say Grifols’ facilities have recorded multiple compliance issues and argue that for-profit plasma collection puts vulnerable donors at risk.

“Reading through the inspection report for their collection site in Calgary was shocking. There’s a dozen regulatory criteria where they are not meeting compliance,” said Chris Gallaway, Friends of Medicare in Alberta.

In a statement to CityNews, Minister of Health, Seniors, and Long-Term Care Uzoma Asagwara says, “While plasma donation centres are licensed and regulated by Health Canada, our government continues to monitor the investigation into these deaths to determine whether any changes are needed to protect donors. We expect a thorough and transparent investigation, including a clear understanding of whether all safety protocols were followed.”

CityNews reached out to Grifols plasma donation directly, and they declined to comment at this time.

“So today we are calling on governments to act. Protect donors, protect our public health system, and to make it clear that in Canada, people come before profit, always,” said Vipond.