Plasma Donation Clinic Pauses Operations in Canada Following Donor Fatalities

A health care company operating Canada’s sole for-profit plasma collection business has temporarily halted operations nationwide following the deaths of two donors in Winnipeg.

The incidents, occurring in October and January, drew significant attention from regulatory bodies, lawmakers, and the public toward Grifols, which manages 17 clinics across the country.

In response to what the company termed “unfounded scrutiny,” Grifols announced on Thursday that plasma collection activities would cease starting Friday.

This decision followed a compliance failure notice from Health Canada on Wednesday, which identified multiple issues at a Winnipeg facility.

The move was welcomed by Health Canada’s spokesperson, who emphasized patient safety as the priority, noting that regulators had found “several compliance concerns.”

Since initiating Canadian plasma collection in 2022 under an agreement with the nonprofit Canadian Blood Services, Grifols has operated 17 clinics in the country.

While plasma donations remain controversial due to financial incentives, the company maintains donor safety as its core principle, with fatalities being exceptionally rare.

One of the deceased, Rodiyat Alabede, a 22-year-old international student, was found unresponsive during her donation in October. Her family confirmed her passing, though Grifols has not established a direct link between the procedure and her death.

Grifols stated it would resume operations in Canada after developing a sustainability plan with Health Canada and Canadian Blood Services to ensure a “robust plasma collection network.”

Source link