Following the disclosure of two deaths at two different Grifols for-profit blood plasma centres in Winnipeg, MB, the Ontario and Manitoba Health Coalitions are calling for a judicial inquest independent of Health Canada and Canadian Blood Services (CBS).
In Canada, men can donate blood every eight weeks and women every 12. CBS suggests plasma can be donated every six to 14 days with a limit of 52 times per year. Yet, Health Canada authorizes private, for-profit companies like Grifols to collect plasma from one client up to 104 times per year.
Grifols tends to open its for-profit centres in economically challenged neighbourhoods.
Grifols incentivizes plasma collections by offering up to $6,890 annually for those who maximize all the inducements including a $50 bonus for every 10 “donations” made within six weeks. This will inevitably take a toll on the bodies and health of those selling their plasma.
While donating plasma is generally safe, studies raise concerns around frequency since the process extracts iron, immunoglobulins, proteins and nutrients. Frequent plasma sellers may experience higher rates of lower blood protein levels, increased risk of infection, as well as liver and kidney problems.
A 43-year old Winnipeg man is currently suing Grifols and three Grifols employees alleging acute kidney damage caused by equipment failure on July 15, 2023.
Inspection reports from Health Canada show that four Grifols centres have been found non-compliant. That means these sites failed to show their activities comply with the Food and Drugs Act and Blood Regulations. The sites include Calgary, AB; St. John, NB; and Regina and Saskatoon, SK.
“The inspection reports showing non-compliance at Grifols’ centres are shocking. The findings are deeply troubling. They show fail after fail after fail,” Geoff Cain, volunteer co-chair of the Coalition’s Committee to Protect Ontario’s Blood System and former employee at CBS explained during a March 13 press conference rabble.ca attended.
Health Canada can suspend or revoke Grifols licence for failure to comply with federal safety regulations and standards. So far, Health Canada has not intervened in the case of Grifols multiple infractions.
In 2014, the Ontario Liberal government passed the Voluntary Blood Donations Act that banned paying for plasma. The ban was in keeping with the recommendations of the Krever Commission that looked into Canada’s tainted blood scandal that resulted in approximately 8,000 deaths.
In 2022, CBS signed a 15-year contract with Grifols and then the Ontario Doug Ford government allowed them to set up paid plasma centres in province. OHC opposed the arrangement and continues to call for CBS to end its contract with Grifols.
“We do not allow for-profit companies to harvest human organs and sell them. It crosses a moral line that is held for good reason. Commodification results in unacceptable exploitation, harm, safety issues and inequities,” said Natalie Mehra, executive director of the Ontario Health Coalition during the press conference. “The same principle applies to human blood. We are calling on our provincial government, CBS and Health Canada to expand and protect the voluntary public blood and plasma donation system.”
Additionally, the Ontario Health Coalition calls for:
- CBS to disclose the terms of the contract between CBS and Grifols, a Spanish multinational pharmaceutical and chemical manufacturer and the largest worldwide producer of plasma products
- Health Canada and CBS to report what, if any, the consequences have been for Grifols for non-compliance, disclosure of the full compliance reports, and any other adverse events that have occurred for people whose plasma has been harvested at Grifols centres
- Health Canada to disclose whether the Ontario Grifols centres have been inspected since they began operating
- Health Canada to disclose the frequency of plasma harvesting for the people who have died
