Health Canada suspends Grifols Winnipeg plasma site over compliance concerns

Advertisement

Advertise with us

WINNIPEG - Health Canada has suspended all collections at a plasma donation centre in Winnipeg that had been part of an investigation into two donor deaths.

Read this article for free:


or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Subscribe and receive a limited-edition Free Press branded hat or tote.

Digital Subscription

One year of digital access for only $205*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles

*First annual payment billed as $205.00 + GST for one year. This annual subscription will automatically renew at $233.00 + GST every 52 weeks (10% off the regular annual price of $259.35). Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Add Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only an additional

$1 for the first 4 weeks*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles
Start now

*Your next Brandon Sun subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $17.95 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $24.95 plus GST every four weeks.

WINNIPEG – Health Canada has suspended all collections at a plasma donation centre in Winnipeg that had been part of an investigation into two donor deaths.

Health Canada began investigating earlier this year after two donors died, each at a separate Grifols location in Winnipeg.

No link was found between the deaths of the plasma donors and the collection process, but Health Canada found compliance problems at Grifols’ Taylor Avenue location.

A bag of blood plasma is pictured at blood bank in La Paz, Bolivia, on Friday, June 12, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Juan Karita
A bag of blood plasma is pictured at blood bank in La Paz, Bolivia, on Friday, June 12, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Juan Karita

In August, Grifols voluntarily suspended plasma collection anyway, citing what it called “unfounded attention” on its practices.

Health Canada, however, has now slapped its own plasma collection ban on Grifols’ Taylor Avenue location, saying that site has failed to shore up clinic practices as directed.

Grifols, a private company based in Spain, could not immediately be reached for comment.

Health Canada said in a statement Wednesday it “will continue to work with Grifols as it seeks to resume activities and implement corrective action plans.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 23, 2026. 

Report Error Submit a Tip

More Stories

International flavour: Canadian investors may want to make like Ottawa, diversify beyond U.S.

Joel Schlesinger 6 minute read Preview

International flavour: Canadian investors may want to make like Ottawa, diversify beyond U.S.

Joel Schlesinger 6 minute read 2:01 AM CDT

Canada is learning the hard way about the dangers of putting too many eggs in its U.S. economic basket.

Much has been made about the need to diversify our economy away from the United States.

Diversification is understandably beneficial. The more varied streams of revenue a nation has, the less affected the economy will be when one of those sources is interrupted.

The same can be said about investment portfolios.

Read
2:01 AM CDT

Retired guidance counsellor defends explicit 2025 sex-ed presentation to high school football team in disciplinary hearing

Maggie Macintosh 7 minute read Preview

Retired guidance counsellor defends explicit 2025 sex-ed presentation to high school football team in disciplinary hearing

Maggie Macintosh 7 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 12:26 PM CDT

Gus Watanabe, a former employee of Oak Park High School in Winnipeg, was the subject of a public disciplinary hearing on Thursday.

Read
Updated: Yesterday at 12:26 PM CDT

Brandonmeat packer thriving on its own

Abiola Odutola 3 minute read Preview

Brandonmeat packer thriving on its own

Abiola Odutola 3 minute read 2:01 AM CDT

BRANDON — Canada Packers has strengthened its business and laid the foundation for future growth during its first year as an independent company, its president says.

The Brandon-based pork producer, separated from Maple Leaf Foods in October 2025, established its own leadership, strategy, systems, culture and identity while continuing operations across its hog production farms and regional hog barns in southern and eastern Manitoba.

The company’s first year was focused on building a successful standalone business while continuing to serve customers, communities and shareholders, president Dennis Organ said.

“Market conditions over the past year have been more challenging than we anticipated when we became a separate entity,” he said in an email. “Despite that, we continued to execute against our priorities, including increasing processing volumes, maintaining disciplined operations and strengthening the business.”

Read
2:01 AM CDT

Gillingham talks trash, pledges big bin boost

Joyanne Pursaga 4 minute read Preview

Gillingham talks trash, pledges big bin boost

Joyanne Pursaga 4 minute read Yesterday at 2:01 AM CDT

Scott Gillingham says he would add hundreds of locked garbage bins downtown to prevent unsightly trash piles if re-elected as mayor.

Read
Yesterday at 2:01 AM CDT

Manitoba marks end of sending simple workplace problems to doctor’s office

Tory McNally 7 minute read Preview

Manitoba marks end of sending simple workplace problems to doctor’s office

Tory McNally 7 minute read 2:01 AM CDT

There are some changes in the workplace that make you think: “Well, it’s about time.”

This is one of them.

Starting Oct. 1, Manitoba changed the rules around sick notes. I think it is going to be a wonderful change — not just for doctors and patients, but for employers, employees and the way we think about accountability at work.

The change comes from Bill 11, the Employment Standards Code Amendment Act (Sick Notes for Employee Absences), which received royal assent on June 1 and came into force Thursday. Under the new rules, employers generally cannot require a sick note for an illness or injury unless the employee is away for more than one week or has been absent because of illness or injury for more than 10 scheduled workdays in the calendar year.

Read
2:01 AM CDT

Khan should’ve taken high road: Goertzen

Carol Sanders 5 minute read Preview

Khan should’ve taken high road: Goertzen

Carol Sanders 5 minute read Yesterday at 6:39 PM CDT

The veteran Progressive Conservative who championed Obby Khan’s leadership bid says the former Blue Bomber dropped the ball by dissing his Tory teammates before he stepped down.

“I wouldn’t recommend it, and I didn’t recommend it,” Kelvin Goertzen (Steinbach) said in an interview Friday.

Khan resigned as PC leader and quit the caucus Monday saying some members were secretly plotting his ouster, even after he won a confidence vote on Sept. 25.

On Tuesday, Khan lashed out in a CJOB interview, naming the alleged plotters, saying constituents deserved to know which of their elected representatives “lacked moral integrity.” Khan told the Free Press he was “deeply emotionally hurt,” and felt stabbed in the back.

Read
Yesterday at 6:39 PM CDT