For-Profit Plasma Clinic Pauses All Canadian Collections Amid Health Canada Scrutiny

Grifols, a company operating for-profit plasma donation clinics, has announced a temporary halt to all plasma collection services in Canada. The company cited "unfounded attention" as the reason for its voluntary decision to pause operations at all its Canadian clinics.

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The validation, calibration, cleaning, or maintenance of critical equipment, and the records of staff qualifications, training or evaluation of their competency “were not always sufficient.”

This move comes on the same day Health Canada released findings from its investigation into a Grifols facility in Winnipeg. The federal health department identified multiple compliance concerns, noting that records for equipment validation, calibration, cleaning, and staff competency were "not always sufficient." Since 2022, Health Canada has issued six notices of non-compliance for Grifols clinics across five provinces.

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donor safety and the safety of plasma collection “has never been compromised.”

While Grifols asserts that donor safety has never been compromised, the company's decision follows recent scrutiny, including calls for an end to paid plasma donations after the deaths of two individuals who had donated at the Winnipeg clinic. Health Canada, however, has stated that no link has been established between these deaths and the donation process. The agency assured the public that the temporary closure will not impact the safety or security of Canada's blood supply and committed to collaborating with Grifols to resolve the identified issues before operations can resume.

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the temporary closure will have no impact on the safety and security of Canada’s blood supply and the federal agency will “continue to work collaboratively with Grifols to ensure these concerns are addressed before any plasma collection sites can be reopened.”