Advocacy Groups Demand Inquest into Plasma Donor Deaths in Winnipeg

Advocacy groups in Canada are urging the provincial government of Manitoba to initiate an inquest into the deaths of two plasma donors linked to for-profit collection centres in Winnipeg. The deaths occurred in October 2023 and January 2024 at two facilities operated by Grifols, triggering concerns about the safety protocols in place for plasma donation.

Health Canada has committed to investigating these incidents. However, the Manitoba Health Coalition has raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest, as Health Canada is responsible for licensing Grifols. “We want as independent and thorough an investigation as possible for the loved ones of these Manitobans who died, to get real answers and so that harm like this doesn’t happen in the future,” stated coalition executive director Noah Schulz during a news conference.

Joining the call for an inquest, representatives from the Ontario Health Coalition have highlighted that the contract between Canadian Blood Services and Grifols should be publicly disclosed. This follows inspections revealing that multiple donation sites across Canada have been deemed “non-compliant” with federal regulations.

Concerns Over Plasma Donation Frequency

Critics of the current system, including Natalie Mehra, executive director of the Ontario coalition, expressed concern over the frequency with which donors can give plasma. Health Canada permits Grifols to harvest plasma from a single donor up to 104 times a year. “The meta-analysis indicates that there can be serious safety concerns with that kind of frequency of plasma harvesting,” Mehra said, emphasizing the need for a thorough examination of existing policies.

Plasma is a vital component of blood, used in treating various medical emergencies, including burns and cancer treatments. Donors at Grifols facilities are compensated between $60 and $100 per session, not including promotional bonuses. The Taylor Avenue plasma centre and the Innovation Drive centre in Winnipeg have been under scrutiny, with the latter inspected most recently in 2025.

Calls for Regulatory Changes

The Canadian Health Coalition, in light of the recent deaths, is urging federal Health Minister Marjorie Michel to implement a ban on for-profit paid plasma donation centres nationwide. “Canadian Blood Services needs to immediately cancel Grifols as their agent and take over plasma collection,” declared Jason MacLean, chair of the coalition.

Despite the growing calls for action, Health Canada has stated that it has not established a direct link between the deaths and the plasma donation process. Grifols has similarly maintained that there is “no reason to believe that there is a correlation between the donors’ passing and plasma donation.”

Manitoba’s Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara acknowledged the situation, indicating that the province would evaluate the possibility of banning paid plasma donations, following similar actions taken by British Columbia and Quebec. While Ontario has a ban in place, it makes exceptions for Grifols when collecting plasma on behalf of Canadian Blood Services. Asagwara confirmed that the province will await the findings from Health Canada’s investigation before taking further steps.

The events surrounding these tragic deaths have sparked a significant debate on the safety and ethics of for-profit plasma donation in Canada, raising crucial questions about the protection of donors and the regulatory frameworks governing such practices.