Grifols, a Spanish healthcare company operating 17 private plasma donation clinics across Canada, announced a temporary pause in collections following the deaths of two donors and a government compliance investigation.
Health Canada issued a formal notice of non-compliance to the company for failure to adhere to blood regulations. The two deaths occurred in October 2025 and January 2026, both involving donors in Manitoba who experienced distress during plasma collection. One donor was identified by advocates as Rodiyat Alabede, a 22-year-old international student who died of cardiac arrest shortly after donating in Winnipeg. Although Health Canada reported finding no direct link between the donation and her death, patient advocates have raised concerns about screening procedures and called for a new inquest.
Inspection reports from Health Canada revealed multiple deficiencies at Grifols clinics, including inadequate staff training, failures in standard operating procedures, poor record-keeping, and instances where staff did not halt plasma collection when alarms activated. The agency also noted the company’s reporting as incomplete and inaccurate. Prior to the pause, donations were permitted twice weekly at Grifols facilities, with donors compensated up to C$100 per donation.
Plasma, a protein-rich blood component, is used in creating medications for conditions including hemophilia, liver disease, and various cancers. The donation process, conducted through an apheresis machine that separates and returns blood components, typically takes approximately 90 minutes. Grifols stated the pause was a proactive, voluntary measure and denied any connection between the deaths and plasma donation, asserting that Canada’s blood and plasma supply safety would not be affected. The company indicated it would work with Health Canada and Canadian Blood Services to resume operations.
Article Attribution | Read More at Article Source
Article summary produced by Claude AI