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Health Coalition demands disclosures & end to Grifols' for-profit blood plasma contract following reports of deaths, harm, non-compliance
Globenewswire· 2026-03-13 20:41
Core Viewpoint - The Ontario and Manitoba Health Coalitions are calling for a judicial inquest into the operations of Grifols following reports of patient deaths and non-compliance issues at their plasma harvesting centers [1][2][3] Group 1: Patient Safety and Compliance Issues - Two patients died in Winnipeg after having their blood plasma harvested at Grifols centers, raising serious safety concerns [1] - Grifols has been found non-compliant with serious breaches at multiple centers, including Calgary, St. John, Regina, and Saskatoon [1] - Inspection reports from Health Canada indicate repeated failures at Grifols' facilities, prompting calls for accountability [3][4] Group 2: Legislative and Ethical Concerns - The Ontario Health Coalition is advocating for the end of Grifols' contract with Canadian Blood Services (CBS) and the expansion of the voluntary public donation system [2][4] - The Voluntary Blood Donations Act prohibits paid plasma harvesting, yet CBS signed a 15-year contract with Grifols in 2022, which contradicts the intent of the legislation [4] - Advocacy groups emphasize that for-profit companies should not be allowed to harvest human blood, citing moral and ethical implications [3][6] Group 3: Economic and Social Implications - Grifols has been advertising potential earnings of $6,890 per year for plasma donations, which may attract low-income individuals to sell their plasma out of financial desperation [6][7] - The practice of frequent plasma harvesting raises concerns about health impacts, particularly for economically disadvantaged individuals [5][8] - Comparisons are drawn between the U.S. and Canada regarding plasma harvesting frequency, with calls for a more cautious approach in Canada [8]