Posted: March 13, 2026
By Ontario Health Coalition staff
The Ontario and Manitoba Health Coalitions held a press conference this morning to respond to a report from CBC about two patients who died in Winnipeg after having their blood plasma harvested at centres owned by for-profit pharmaceutical corporation Grifols. Another report followed, of a man who is suing, alleging kidney damage from equipment failure while having his plasma harvested at a Grifols centre. The Alberta Friends of Medicare revealed that Grifols has been found non-compliant with serious breaches at their Calgary centre. Inspection reports from Health Canada show that four Grifols centres have been found non-compliant in Calgary, Alberta; St. John, New Brunswick; and Regina and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
The Ontario Health Coalition supported the Manitoba Health Coalition’s call today for a judicial inquest in Manitoba which would result in investigations that are independent of Health Canada and Canadian Blood Services (CBS).
In addition, the Ontario Health Coalition called for:
- CBS to disclose the terms of the contract between CBS and Grifols
- Health Canada and CBS to report what, if any, the consequences have been for Grifols for non-compliance, disclosure of the full compliance reports, and any other adverse events that have occurred for people whose plasma has been harvested at Grifols centres
- Health Canada to disclose whether the Ontario Grifols centres have been inspected since they have opened and begun operating
- Health Canada to disclose the frequency of plasma harvesting for the people who have died.
The Ontario Health Coalition also called for Canadian Blood Services to end its contract with Grifols and expand the voluntary public donation system.
Read more at the Ontario Health Coalition
