Death of two blood plasma donors leads to Canadian probe of Spanish pharma giant

Posted: April 21, 2026

(April 20,2026) By: Marty Logan, The BMJ (behind a paywall)

–> Natalie Mehra is quoted in the article. The first part of the article follows:

Canada’s parliament is scrutinising operations of the Spanish drug company Grifols after the deaths of two plasma donors.

Both deaths occurred in Winnipeg, Manitoba, one in October 2025 and the other in January 2026.

Although the regulator Health Canada found no link between the donation process and the deaths, the incidents have thrown a spotlight on the country’s cash-for-plasma system.

Grifols was recently ordered by Health Canada to change its operations in the country, after inspections found non-compliance at some of its centres.

Canada imports most of its plasma products, and the national donation supplier, Canadian Blood Services (CBS), has concluded that it cannot make up the local deficit with voluntary donations. This led it to enter an agreement with Grifols to boost supply, through providing financial incentives to donors.

Since 2022 the company has opened 17…

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