Canadian Health Coalition calls for the shutting down of all for-profit, private plasma centres
Ottawa – The Canadian Health Coalition is calling on Federal Health Minister Marjorie Michel to ban for-profit, private paid plasma centres across Canada, following Health Canada confirming media reports of two people dying after blood plasma extractions at Grifols-owned plasma collection centres in Winnipeg.
The Coalition is also calling on the Manitoba government to instruct the Chief Medical Examiner to conduct a coroner’s inquest into the deaths.
The Coalition welcomes news that Manitoba is considering banning paid plasma centres, as reported by CBC on March 12, 2026.
“Plasma collection should remain guided by the principles of the Krever Commission for Canada’s national blood supply including that blood is a public resource and donors should not be paid,” says Jason MacLean, Chair of the Canadian Health Coalition.
“All provinces and territories need to urgently pass the voluntary blood protection legislation. Canadian Blood Services needs to immediately cancel Grifols as their agent and take over plasma collection. These measures will ensure greater domestic security and safety of Canada’s blood and plasma supply,” said MacLean.
Twenty-two-year-old Rodiyat Alabede, an international student, died on Oct. 25 after friends say she donated plasma. Another person died in January. A third person from Winnipeg is suing over mechanical equipment failure that caused serious kidney injury after he sold his plasma at a Grifols-owned centre.
On January 13, 2026, Health Canada inspectors found the Grifols centre in Regina to be non-compliant. On December 2, 2025, the Grifols centre in Calgary was also found to be non-compliant. Both mentioned deficiencies in assessing donor’s suitability, in quality management system, operating procedures not followed, and personnel qualifications and training.
Paid plasma preys on vulnerable populations needing money. For example, the Grifols plasma collection centre in Moncton is located near the Université de Moncton and offers up to $1,680 in the first three months of donating plasma.
The Canadian Health Coalition’s mission is to protect and advance public provision of health services to all people living in Canada. That includes Canadian Blood Service’s public provision of blood, plasma and plasma products for emergency conditions and for ongoing medical care.
