A company that collects plasma for profit has announced a temporary closure of its Canadian clinics due to public scrutiny. Grifols made the decision to halt operations in response to what it calls unwarranted attention on paid plasma collection. The company is prepared to resume activities once feasible, in coordination with Health Canada and the Canadian Blood Services. The pause is set to begin on Friday, as stated in an announcement on Thursday.
Grifols notified Health Canada of its temporary shutdown on Wednesday, coinciding with the issuance of a non-compliance rating at its Winnipeg facility on Taylor Avenue. According to an inspection report summary on Health Canada’s website, the clinic in Winnipeg failed to implement necessary corrective and preventive actions. Issues were also identified with adherence to operating procedures and the documentation of staff qualifications and training evaluations.
Advocates have been urging the government to take action against the company following reports of two deaths after plasma donations at Grifols clinics in Winnipeg. An inspection conducted under access to information laws revealed multiple concerns with donor screening and supervision, with a total of 25 serious adverse reactions reported at Grifols sites since 2018.
Noah Schulz, the provincial director of the Manitoba Health Coalition, highlighted the recurring poor practices observed at Grifols. The coalition, together with other advocacy groups, has demanded a ban on paid plasma due to concerns about cost-cutting practices by for-profit entities. Schulz emphasized that the Health Canada inspection reports provide evidence of significant issues at Grifols.
In response, Grifols emphasized its commitment to donor safety and the quality of collected plasma, asserting that these aspects have always been upheld. The company’s Winnipeg clinic was found non-compliant during a recent inspection, adding to a series of similar findings at Grifols facilities in other Canadian provinces.
Following the closure of its clinics, Grifols is collaborating with authorities to establish a self-sufficient plasma collection network in Canada, reducing reliance on imported products. The company, headquartered in Spain, operates numerous plasma collection centers globally, with around 400 facilities outside of Canada.
