Private clinic Grifols says it's pausing all plasma collection in Canada

A for-profit plasma donation company says it's temporarily shutting down collection at all its Canadian clinics amid public scrutiny.

Grifols says it's pausing activities in light of "unfounded attention" focused on paid plasma collection and that it's ready to resume operations as soon as it's practicable, in agreement with Health Canada and the Canadian Blood Services.

The pause will go into effect Friday, the multinational company said in a statement Thursday.

Grifols said it informed Health Canada of its decision Wednesday, the same day the federal agency says the company was issued a non-compliance rating at one of its Winnipeg sites, on Taylor Avenue.

An inspection report card summary on Health Canada's website Thursday said the Winnipeg clinic "did not carry out sufficient corrective and preventive actions when required."

It also said some operating procedures were not always followed and that records of "staff qualifications, training or evaluation of their competency" were not always sufficient.

Advocates have been calling on the federal government to crack down on the company after CBC News reported two people died after donating plasma at different Grifols clinics in Winnipeg.

A Health Canada inspection recently released under access to information laws found multiple issues with donor screening and supervision. Data from the federal agency show a total of 25 serious adverse reactions had been reported at centres currently operated by Grifols since 2018.

"We see this pattern of poor practices," said Noah Schulz, provincial director of the Manitoba Health Coalition.

The coalition, along with other advocacy groups, has called for a ban on paid plasma.

Schulz said being for-profit means the company is encouraged to run things "as cheaply" as possible.

"It's not just media attention with no evidence, no basis," he said. "The Health Canada inspection reports are there. We know that there are serious problems at Grifols."

Grifols said Thursday donor safety and the quality of the plasma it collects have never been compromised.

Publicly listed inspections of licensed blood establishments show the company's clinics have received "non-compliant" ratings in New Brunswick, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta.