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![\"MIKAELA](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/4116946_web1_260312-Plasma-00007.jpg\")
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MIKAELA MACKENZIE \/ FREE PRESS FILES<\/p>\n
Grifols Plasma Donation Centre on Taylor Avenue. <\/p>\n
Plasma centres in Calgary (December) and Regina (January), and Grifols\u2019s head office in Oakville, Ont., (January) were also inspected.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile the head office does not collect plasma, it oversees all 16 Canadian collection sites under its Blood Establishment Licence,\u201d Johnson said in a follow-up email. \u201cInspectors conducted a virtual inspection and identified quality management issues, resulting in seven documented observations.\u201d<\/p>\n
Johnson said that Health Canada had prioritized an inspection of the Grifols head office to review its quality management system at a national level since the department had identified quality management system observations at multiple Grifols sites during routine inspections.<\/p>\n
The three inspections resulted in non-compliance ratings. Johnson said the observations were not deemed \u201ccritical\u201d and \u201cthere was no evidence that plasma safety or quality was affected.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHealth Canada\u2019s observations, as well as any corrective actions it requests from the head office inspection, are expected to be applied to all collection centres under the head office\u2019s oversight,\u201d Johnson said.<\/p>\n
Health Canada has also added terms and conditions to Grifols\u2019 licence for all 16 collection centres due to \u201crecurring, systemic deficiencies across several sites.\u201d<\/p>\n
The new terms and conditions require Grifols to immediately reduce the number of appointments so staff can fully follow procedures, as well as strengthen quality checks to identify and address issues quickly.<\/p>\n
Johnson said those terms and conditions will remain in place until Health Canada is satisfied with sustained compliance with blood regulations at their 16 sites.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe inspection processes are ongoing and will only be considered complete when the inspectors have reviewed the establishments\u2019 corrective action plans and require no further information,\u201d he said. \u201cIn addition, Health Canada has the authority to conduct re-inspections or compliance checks to verify that corrective actions are carried out. Establishments that fail to comply may be subject to further enforcement.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\t\tWinnipeg Free Press | Newsletter\n\t<\/p>\n
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Although the inspection process is ongoing, Johnson says the investigation into the deaths is considered complete and directed further inquiries regarding the cause of deaths to the province\u2019s chief medical examiner.<\/p>\n
Manitoba Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara previously said the province was considering a ban on paid plasma donations, but no decision had been made as they awaited information from Health Canada\u2019s investigation<\/a>.<\/p>\n The health minister and the province\u2019s chief medical examiner did not immedately respond to a request for comment on Saturday.<\/p>\n Paid plasma donation is banned in British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec, however Ontario has an exemption in place for Grifols through Canadian Blood Services.<\/p>\n scott.billeck@freepress.mb.ca<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t Scott Billeck Scott Billeck is a general assignment reporter for the Free Press. A Creative Communications graduate from Red River College, Scott has more than a decade\u2019s worth of experience covering hockey, football and global pandemics. He joined the Free Press in 2024.\u00a0 Read more about Scott<\/a>.<\/p>\n Every piece of reporting Scott produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print \u2014 part of the Free Press\u2018s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press\u2019s history and mandate<\/a>, and learn how our newsroom operates<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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