Grifols, the multinational company that operates for‑profit plasma donation centres in Canada, has announced a temporary pause to plasma collection at all its Canadian clinics, including its Winnipeg locations.
Company cites scrutiny as reason for pause
The company said the pause, to take effect Friday, was being carried out in coordination with Health Canada and Canadian Blood Services and described the decision as a response to what it called "unfounded attention" focussed on paid plasma collection in the country.
"unfounded attention"
The move comes after Health Canada issued a non‑compliance rating for one Grifols clinic in Winnipeg, located on Taylor Avenue, and released inspection findings that identified shortcomings at the site. The federal agency has said some operating procedures were not always followed and that documentation of staff qualifications and training was not always sufficient.
Regulatory findings and past adverse events
Health Canada’s inspection summary described a failure to carry out adequate corrective and preventive actions where required. The inspection report was made public following a request under access‑to‑information laws.
Federal data also show that centres currently operated by Grifols have reported a total of 25 serious adverse reactions since 2018. The CBC reported that activists and donor advocates had urged tighter federal oversight after two people died following plasma donations at separate Grifols sites in Winnipeg. The company has said it informed Health Canada of its temporary suspension on Wednesday.
| Issue identified by Health Canada | Detail |
|---|---|
| Corrective and preventive actions | Not sufficient where required |
| Operating procedures | Not always followed |
| Records of staff training/competency | Not always sufficient |
| Serious adverse reactions reported since 2018 | 25 |
Community concern and calls for oversight
The temporary halt has intensified debate over paid plasma collection in Canada. Advocates and some public health observers have argued for stricter regulation of for‑profit collection models, citing donor safety and the need for robust screening and monitoring.
Grifols said it is ready to resume operations as soon as practicable, but did not specify the timeline for reopening its clinics. Health Canada, for its part, continues to monitor the situation and enforces compliance through inspections and ratings that can prompt corrective measures.
- What we know: Grifols paused collection across Canada; a Winnipeg clinic received a non‑compliance rating.
- What remains unclear: Exact causes behind the two Winnipeg deaths and how long the pause will last.
- Public health impact: The pause affects paid plasma donations at multiple sites and raises questions about donor screening and clinic oversight.
Practical considerations for donors and patients
People who normally donate plasma at Grifols clinics should expect interruptions and are advised to watch for direct communications from the company or Health Canada. Hospitals and transfusion services that rely on plasma products receive supplies through separate systems managed by Canadian Blood Services and provincial authorities; Grifols’ pause may not have an immediate effect on hospital inventories, but monitoring will be required if the suspension is prolonged.
For Manitobans concerned about recent reports, public health officials recommend waiting for completed investigations and for Health Canada to confirm that any safety issues have been resolved before resuming donation at affected sites.
This developing story involves regulatory action, donor safety and two recent deaths linked to plasma donation in Winnipeg; federal officials, the operator and local health authorities will be the key sources for updates as investigations continue.
— Reported from Winnipeg
