REGINA — Word that Grifols will no longer operate for-profit plasma collection clinics in Canada has received a reaction of "good riddance" from CUPE Saskatchewan.
That was the exact wording used in CUPE's news release Monday, with CUPE Saskatchewan having harsh words for that and other paid plasma operations.
"Vulnerable people, who are preyed upon by these gross cash-for-blood schemes, will be safer following this company's decision to no longer run its private clinics in Canada," said Kent Peterson, President of CUPE Saskatchewan, in a statement Monday.
The statement came after Grifols announced Aug. 13 it is temporarily pausing all plasma collection at all of its Canada facilities as of Aug. 14, just after Health Canada issued a notice of non-compliance regarding their Winnipeg operation. The Winnipeg facilities have also faced scrutiny after deaths of two plasma donors in recent months.
A national news release from CUPE also pointed to other Health Canada inspections, including one at Grifols' facility in Regina earlier this year in which they were also found to be non-compliant.
Health Canada inspected Grifols' Regina operation on Jan. 13 and listed ten instances of non-compliance, including not always following operating procedures or keeping them up to date, not thoroughly investigate errors and accidents and determine corrective and preventive actions, and the program for evaluating staff competency was found not sufficient, among others.
Paid plasma operations have long drawn the ire of CUPE Saskatchewan, who had previously issued a news release Aug. 8 criticizing the practice. That release pointed out that Saskatchewan first allowed private, for-profit blood plasma clinics in 2016, and that Saskatoon was the location of the first such clinic in Canada, followed by Regina.
In that Aug. 8 release, Peterson said "Scott Moe needs to follow the lead of other provinces and introduce legislation as soon as possible to ban these clinics once and for all."
On Monday, Peterson reiterated his call for the Moe government to bring in new legislation to ban the clinics. "It was the Sask. Party government that opened the doors to private plasma corporations and Scott Moe should have kicked them out as soon as he found out rules were being broken and people were dying."
Peterson also made it known in CUPE's latest release that he wanted to see Grifols investigated by police over the previous incidents.
"If this disgusting cash-for-blood corporation has nothing to hide, why is it closing up shop and skipping town?” asked Peterson. "Something stinks, and it’s time for the police to investigate and hold these horrible corporations accountable for what they’ve done."
Grifols response
A spokesperson for Grifols said in a statement that in "light of the unfounded attention that has been focused on compensated plasma collection, Grifols has proactively and voluntarily decided to pause plasma collection activities at all its plasma donation centres in Canada."
"This measure reflects Grifols’ continuing commitment to maintaining the highest standards of quality, safety and operational excellence."
The company said the temporary pause will "allow Grifols to work with Health Canada and Canadian Blood Services on the framework needed to support the continued development of a sustainable and robust plasma collection network in Canada to provide these vital medicines to Canadians without unnecessary reliance on imported product. Grifols communicated its decision to Health Canada on August 12."
According to Grifols' statement, operations are expected to resume "as soon as practicable in agreement with Health Canada and Canadian Blood Services." They add that "donor safety and the quality and safety of the plasma collected at its Canadian centres has never been compromised."
Grifols adds that they remain fully at the disposal of Health Canada throughout this process, and reiterate their commitment to "an open, transparent and collaborative dialogue with the regulator. The company values the constructive engagement it has had with Health Canada to date and looks forward to continuing to work closely together for the benefit of Canadian patients.”
Grifols noted that for over than 40 years, it has managed and operated plasma collection facilities globally operating a network of approximately 400 plasma collection centres outside Canada including extensive operations in the United States, Europe and Egypt.
"Throughout this period, Grifols has maintained an excellent regulatory track record, built on the highest standards of donor safety, plasma quality and regulatory compliance," they stated. "In fact, Grifols has been praised for raising the bar in plasma operations to benefit the safety of finished product for patients that rely on these medicines for life saving treatments. Additionally, Grifols has implemented policies and processes that go beyond regulatory requirements to enhance donor safety and benefits patients. Grifols has had a long-standing history of transparent, constructive relationships with regulatory and inspection authorities across multiple jurisdictions."
