Published 4 hours ago • loading... • Updated 2 hours ago
Health Canada suspends licence of Grifols site in Winnipeg
Health Canada said the site was suspended after a donor died during a plasma donation and Grifols had already paused collections nationwide on Aug. 14.
On Wednesday, Health Canada suspended the operating licence for the Grifols plasma collection site on Taylor Avenue in Winnipeg, complicating the company's efforts to resume operations after its voluntary August pause.
The suspension follows intense scrutiny after 22-year-old student Rodiyat Alabede died from cardiac problems during a plasma donation at the facility last October.
Inspections revealed a plasma machine at the centre issued five alerts before Alabede's death, exposing technical safety concerns that prompted the regulator's enforcement action.
Although Health Canada maintains there is 'no linkage' between the donation activity and the death, Alabede's family disputes this official finding and has requested a formal investigation.
As Canada's only major commercial plasma collector operating in partnership with Canadian Blood Services, Grifols now faces significant supply chain challenges due to the prolonged facility closure.