The Ontario union that represents Canadian Blood Services (CBS) workers is disappointed that Grifols is resuming for-profit plasma collection without fully addressing outstanding safety concerns.
The Spanish pharmaceutical company announced a phased reopening of its 17 collection facilities in Canada on Tuesday.
Grifols announced a pause in August 2026 shortly after Health Canada issued a non-compliance rating to a Winnipeg collection site.
This followed reports of two donor deaths in October 2025 and January 2026.
Cumulative data from Health Canada indicated that at least 25 serious adverse reactions had been reported at Grifols clinics since 2018.
Health Canada’s findings included insufficient corrective and preventive actions, operating procedures not always being followed, and inadequate records relating to staff qualifications, training, and competency.
These findings reinforce concerns that OPSEU/SEFPO and many others have raised about the for-profit plasma collection model.
“While Health Canada has said that the Winnipeg and Edmonton locations are reopening under enhanced oversight, including more frequent inspections, we still have concerns about whether this is enough to address all of the issues identified,” said OPSEU/SEFPO Blood Services and Diagnostics Sector Chair Brent MacPherson.
“There are still questions about how some of the deficiencies outlined in Health Canada’s finding have been addressed and what’s being doing to make sure they don’t happen again. There’s a large body of evidence that suggests that the private, for-profit model is not in the public interest.”
“We believe blood and plasma collection should be a public service, not a way for private companies to make a profit. Donor safety needs to come first. These essential services should be delivered through a public system,” added OPSEU/SEFPO President JP Hornick.