Manitoba Health Minister says banning paid plasma an option after 2 deaths

Paid plasm could be prohibited in Manitoba, the province's wellness government minister said after ii fatal adverse reactions at Winnipeg collection centres were reported to Health Canada.

"I would say that public safety is our top priority, and so the option of banning paid plasma in Manitoba is an option that is on the table," Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara said Wednesday. 

The deaths are under review by Health Canada, and a spokesperson said they have not found a link between the deaths and plasma collection. Grifols, who operates the Winnipeg centres, said it has "no reason to believe" they are connected.

Plasma is a protein-rich liquid that helps treat bleeding disorders, liver diseases and cancer.  Grifols, a Spanish-based company that specializes in producing plasma medicines, has more than a dozen plasma collection centres in Canada.

The for-profit company has operated in Winnipeg since 2022, after acquiring Canadian Plasma Resources. It runs two centres locally — one on Taylor Avenue and one on Innovation Drive — where people are paid for their plasma.

The minister said they won't do anything until Health Canada finishes its review of the deaths. 

“We won't take any steps until we have the full investigation completed and the results of that in front of us," Asagwara said.

Friends say Rodiyat Alabede died on Oct. 25 after her heart stopped while giving plasma at the Taylor Avenue location.

Alabede's friends remembered her as a kind person with a big heart, who wanted to eventually become a social worker. She came to Canada from Nigeria and was studying at the University of Winnipeg.

"It's obviously a devastating situation that families are now facing — that two loved ones, two Manitobans, tragically pass away after, [from] my understanding, going to donate plasma," the minister said.

Little is known about the second person who died, other than Grifols reported to Health Canada that the fatal adverse reaction happened on Jan. 30 at the Innovation Drive location.  

Both the federal health regulator and Grifols declined to give any information, citing privacy concerns. 

The spokesperson for Grifols said they "were saddened to learn of the recent passing of two of our donors."

"The health and safety of our donors is our ultimate priority," the spokesperson wrote in an emailed statement.

"Every donor undergoes an extensive health history evaluation and physical examination before being deemed eligible to donate."

All establishments that collect plasma are regulated by Health Canada and must report to the federal regulator if a donor has experienced a serious reaction during donation or within 72 hours after a donation.

It is up to each province to decide if someone can collect a payment for plasma donation. Only three provinces — Ontario, British Columbia and Quebec — have legislation in place banning paid plasma clinics. 

However, centres have opened in Ontario after a 2022 partnership between Canadian Blood Services and Grifols because of provincial legislation that exempts the former from the ban. 

British Columbia passed the Voluntary Blood Donations Act, which specifically prohibited paying donors for blood or plasma, in 2018.

Asagwara said public safety is the priority but access to plasma is also important for Canadians.

"We know that the priority should always be the safety of Manitobans, and so that's what our top priority is," Asagwara said.

Canadian Blood Services, the non-profit organization that manages the national supply of blood products, said there is a growing need for plasma and that the amount they collect does not meet the country's need.

"We know that plasma access is important, right? We know the Canadian Blood Services plays a role. We know access to plasma is important for not only Manitobans, but across the country," Asagwara said.

Reporter

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