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Manitoba health advocacy group calls for inquest into deaths of paid plasma donors
Posted: March 14, 2026
(March 13, 2026) By: Kristin Annable, CBC News
Manitoba Health Coalition says independent investigation into deaths is needed
A Manitoba health advocacy group is calling for a provincial inquest into the deaths of two people after they made donations at paid plasma collection centres in Winnipeg.
The Manitoba Health Coalition wants more than just a Health Canada investigation into the deaths, which were reported as fatal adverse reactions in October of last year and Jan. 30, 2026.
“Let’s have a more fulsome investigation of how these deaths happened,” said Noah Schulz, the provincial director of the non-profit organization.
Rodiyat Alabede, 22, died on Oct. 25 after friends say she gave plasma at the Grifols Plasma Donation Centre on Taylor Avenue. Little is known about the second person, whose death was reported as a fatal reaction following a donation at Grifol’s Innovation Drive location.
The coalition, along with the Ontario Health Coalition, held a news conference Friday morning to officially call for the inquest and encourage the province to ban paying for plasma in Manitoba.
“This is an acute problem right now in Manitoba,” Schulz said. “We’ve had these two suspicious deaths, including an international student of 22 years old who, reports suggest her heart stopped while giving plasma.
“This is tragic and very disturbing.”
Health Canada, which is still reviewing the deaths, says no link has been found between the deaths and plasma collection.
Plasma donors receive honorarium payments of up to $100 per donation, according to the Grifols website. They offer larger payments based on the frequency of donations, including a $50 bonus for every 10 donations made within six weeks.
The Spain-based company, which specializes in producing plasma medicines, has more than a dozen collection centres in Canada.
The company says it has “no reason to believe” the deaths are connected to plasma collection.
Inquest called when there is public benefit
Manitoba’s chief medical examiner can call an inquest if he feels people will benefit from the information being made public. An inquest is typically held before a provincial court judge to examine the facts surrounding the cause and manner of death.
An inquest is not meant to find blame for a death, but after it is complete, the judge makes recommendations to prevent similar deaths from happening.
Asked whether the chief medical examiner would call an inquest, his office said in an email to CBC News that “the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner does not provide commentary on individual cases, nor does it offer opinions on whether an inquest or review should or may be initiated by other professional organizations.”
Schulz says holding an independent judicial inquest in Manitoba is important because it would be more impartial than a Health Canada investigation.
An independent investigation “would be appropriate in this case, to bring truth and hopefully some justice for the friends and family of these people who died,” Schulz said.
As the federal regulator, Health Canada is responsible for regulating, licensing and inspecting all Grifols plasma collection centres.
Health Canada inspection records show both Grifols locations in Winnipeg “did not thoroughly investigate errors and accidents and determine corrective and preventive actions.”
At one location, records say, “the validation, calibration, cleaning, or maintenance of critical equipment were not always sufficient.”
Records show the Taylor Avenue location was last inspected in 2023, while the Innovation Drive location was last inspected in 2025.
On March 12, CBC asked Health Canada whether the corrective measures requested by Health Canada had been completed, but at the time of publication they had not responded.
Manitoba Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara said they are still awaiting the findings of Health Canada’s review and have a lot of unanswered questions.
“How did these Manitobans go from donating plasma to dying so quickly?… What are the protocols around education and information for those who are donating plasma?” the minister said following question period on Thursday.
