Grifols halts all plasma collection in Canada amid heightened scrutiny
For-profit plasma donor firm Grifols announced a temporary suspension of collections at every Canadian clinic, citing unfounded attention and coordinating with Health Canada and Canadian Blood Services.
Grifols, a for-profit plasma collection company, confirmed it is temporarily stopping plasma donations at every clinic across Canada. The move comes after heightened public attention, which the firm describes as unfounded, and after one outlet reported two separate deaths at its Winnipeg locations. A Health Canada inspection, obtained through access-to-information requests, revealed multiple deficiencies in donor screening and oversight, and federal data show 25 serious adverse reactions at Grifols-run centres since 2018.
Grifols informed Health Canada of the suspension on Wednesday and said the pause will allow collaboration with Health Canada and Canadian Blood Services to develop a collection network less reliant on imported plasma. The company maintains that donor safety and plasma quality have never been compromised and will restart operations as soon as feasible. No specific date for resumption was provided.
Why it matters
The shutdown affects Canada's plasma supply chain and raises questions about the safety of paid blood donations.
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