Listen to this article
Estimated 3 minutes
The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.
Grifols is resuming operations at its Canadian clinics after temporarily shutting down all paid plasma collection in mid-August amid public scrutiny.
The for-profit plasma donation company said in a news release Tuesday that it’s beginning a phased-in resumption of collection activities at its 17 centres, starting immediately with two locations — one on Innovation Drive in Winnipeg and the other on Currents Drive in Edmonton.
Those locations will reopen with a reduced number of daily donor appointments, which will progressively increase, the release said.
The decision to reopen is begin done “in alignment with Health Canada,” the release said, and additional locations across the network will gradually reopen as well.
The plasma collected by Grifols is used to manufacture plasma-derived therapies, which are then administered to patients, Health Canada said. It is not used directly for transfusion into patients.
Grifols paused operations in Canada on Aug. 14, the same day Health Canada issued a non-compliance rating at its Taylor Avenue clinic in Winnipeg.
Health Canada said in August that the Taylor Avenue 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.
The licence for the Taylor Avenue site in Winnipeg remains suspended and the terms and conditions imposed on Grifols’ licence for its 16 other plasma collection sites will remain in place until Health Canada is satisfied that sustained compliance has been demonstrated, Health Canada said in a statement Tuesday that confirmed the two reopenings.
Advocates had been calling on the federal government to crack down on the company after CBC News reported two people died, in October 2025 and January 2026, after donating plasma at different Grifols clinics in Winnipeg.
A Health Canada inspection released under access to information laws found multiple issues with donor screening and supervision. The federal agency said six serious adverse reactions were reported at centres operated by Grifols since 2018.
In its news release on Tuesday, Grifols said it has “strengthened operating procedures, documentation practices, employee training and supervision, staffing models, quality review processes and operational oversight” throughout its network ahead of the reopening.
It has also assumed, as of Sept. 1, full operational control of Canadian Plasma Resources, the company that had managed most of Grifols’ donation centres. The move strengthens alignment across its Canadian operations, the release said.
Health Canada said the reopening of the Winnipeg and Edmonton locations are being conducted under enhanced oversight.
Health Canada has visited both locations to verify that corrective actions, staff training and operational controls are in place, the government agency said in its statement Tuesday. It will also continue to conduct scheduled and unannounced inspections to ensure ongoing compliance.
Health Canada will also perform readiness assessments before any other reopenings.
Canadian Blood Services, in its own statement on Tuesday, said Grifols has taken “prudent and effective steps” to strengthen its processes.
The non-profit charitable organization also said it appreciates the “commitment and collaboration” of Grifols and Health Canada in helping build scale and capacity to meet the growing demand in Canada for immunoglobulins.