Health Canada has raised significant alarms regarding a Grifols plasma collection facility in Winnipeg after a donor tragically passed away. The federal agency’s inspection report, dated December 22, 2025, highlights a series of operational deficiencies that have persisted since 2022, prompting scrutiny of the company’s practices and the adequacy of regulatory oversight.
A Tragic Incident and Regulatory Response
The death of Rodiyat Alabede, a student at the University of Winnipeg, on October 25, 2025, during a plasma donation at Grifols’ Taylor Avenue site, has cast a shadow over the company’s operations. Health Canada initiated a “compliance verification” process nearly a month later, which included on-site inspections and interviews with staff. This investigation revealed alarming deficiencies, including inadequate staff training and an insufficient analysis of Alabede’s death.
Health Canada’s report outlines five main areas of concern: the lack of proper assessment following the incident, staff training inadequacies, incomplete standard operating procedures, poor record-keeping, and ineffective responses to previous inspections. Alarmingly, the report notes that staff often failed to respond appropriately to machine alerts during the donation process, with procedures not consistently followed. For instance, during one incident where a donor’s pressure became dangerously high, staff continued the collection despite an alert.
Systemic Deficiencies and Ongoing Risks
Despite repeated inspections and the imposition of new conditions on Grifols’ licences in April 2026, the regulator has stated that there was no direct link between the donor deaths and the donation process itself. Nonetheless, the pattern of recurring issues raises questions about the safety protocols in place at Grifols, which operates as the sole major commercial plasma collector in Canada with 17 centres nationwide.
The findings have prompted Health Canada to scrutinise staffing practices closely. Notably, 70% of the personnel working in the donation hall had been hired since February 2025, indicating a lack of experienced staff. The report indicates that employees were permitted to retake training quizzes multiple times without any substantial changes in content, suggesting a troubling approach to training and compliance.
Grifols’ Commitment to Improvement
In response to the mounting criticism, Grifols has stated that they are working closely with Health Canada to address the identified deficiencies. The company has submitted action plans aimed at rectifying these issues and has begun implementing changes across its centres. However, the delay in public disclosure of Health Canada’s findings until after media reports emerged has raised further questions about the transparency and effectiveness of regulatory oversight in protecting donor safety.
Health Canada has pointed to previous compliance issues at other Grifols locations, with centres in Saint John, Calgary, and Regina noted for their non-compliance ratings. While these facilities continue to operate, the ongoing concerns underscore a broader systemic failure within Health Canada to ensure donor safety and regulatory compliance.
Why it Matters
The troubling revelations surrounding Grifols’ plasma collection centres highlight a critical need for robust oversight in the collection of biological materials. The deaths of donors and the ongoing deficiencies in operational practices raise significant ethical questions about the safety of plasma donation in Canada. With plasma-derived medicines accounting for a substantial segment of healthcare, it is essential that regulatory bodies act decisively to protect donors and uphold the highest standards of care. The implications of failing to do so extend far beyond individual cases, affecting public trust in healthcare systems and the handling of vital medical resources.
