Grifols, Canada’s sole major commercial blood plasma collector, announced it will begin a phased reopening of two of its collection centres starting Tuesday, following a voluntary pause that lasted more than two months. The centres in Edmonton’s Windermere neighbourhood and Winnipeg on Innovation Drive will reopen for a limited number of appointments as the company implements changes prompted by recent regulatory scrutiny.
The pause, initiated in August, came after critical inspections from Health Canada and public concern over the deaths of two plasma donors. Both deaths occurred in Winnipeg, including that of 22-year-old university student Rodiyat Alabede, who experienced heart complications during a donation at the Taylor Avenue site and subsequently died in hospital. Health Canada had previously said there was “no linkage” between donation activities and the deaths, though the agency later clarified it does not determine cause of death or contribution from donation processes.
Health Canada suspended the licence for Grifols’s Taylor Avenue location due to deficiencies in donor suitability assessments and a failure by staff to thoroughly investigate errors. The company is not reopening this site while it remains under suspension.
Grifols said during the pause it undertook a broad program of enhancements, including retraining staff and strengthening operational procedures, working in coordination with Health Canada. However, the company did not disclose specific operational changes. Health Canada stated it conducted inspections to verify corrective actions and emphasized that ongoing compliance is expected as Grifols resumes operations.
Additional inspections of other Canadian Grifols centres identified issues ranging from visible bruising and puncture marks on donors’ arms to the absence of required medical personnel during collections. Despite these concerns, the company is moving forward with reopening select sites as regulatory oversight continues, including unannounced inspections planned by Health Canada.
Grifols operates in partnership with Canadian Blood Services (CBS), which purchases plasma-derived products and spent more than $1 billion on related pharmaceutical supplies. Unlike CBS, which relies on voluntary donors, Grifols pays donors for their plasma, although the exact compensation rate remains unclear. Previously published payment information indicated amounts ranging from $40 to $100 per donation based on plasma volume and frequency, but updated details are now accessible only via the company’s app and may vary by centre.
CBS expressed cautious optimism regarding Grifols’s resumption of operations, describing the company’s steps as “prudent and effective” and confirming continued collaboration with regulatory authorities. The organization acknowledged Health Canada’s primary role in enforcing compliance and reaffirmed the partnership’s importance to bolster domestic plasma-derived drug production.
Public-health advocates have criticized the ongoing contract between CBS and Grifols, urging greater transparency about its terms and oversight. Jason MacLean, chair of the Canadian Health Coalition, voiced concerns about a lack of demonstrated improvements and accountability, noting the extended period over which infractions were detected.
Health Canada has not completed reviews of several recently opened Grifols centres, including those in west Toronto, north Toronto, Cambridge, and Halifax. The agency did not provide comment on inspections or oversight of these locations when asked. The federal Health Minister’s office declined to comment on Grifols’s reopening plans.