Dozens rally against paid plasma donation clinic in Whitby, Ont., calling practice unethical

CBC

03-03-2025

More than two dozen people rallied against a for-profit plasma donation clinic in Whitby, Ont., exempt from an Ontario ban, calling the practice unethical.
Demonstrators marched outside the office of the Grifols Plasma Donation Centre, chanting slogans, carrying placards and blowing whistles as police officers watched nearby.
"Not for sale! Not for sale!" the demonstrators shouted.
The paid plasma centre is the first in Ontario opened by Grifol, a company headquartered in Spain.
Paid plasma clinics are banned in Ontario, but the province's Voluntary Blood Donations Act specifically exempts Canadian Blood Services (CBS), which manages the national supply of blood products for all provinces and territories with the exception of Quebec. In September 2022, CBS announced that it had signed an agreement with Grifols to allow it to open plasma collection centres in Canada.
The rally, organized by the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU), brought together union members, labour activists and community members, who said they see the centre as unethical because it collects blood donations for payment.
JP Hornick, president of OPSEU, which represents Canadian Blood Services workers, said the Doug Ford government is trying to privatize the collection of plasma. Hornick said there are more ethical ways to address a plasma shortage in Canada than by opening paid plasma centres.
"The easy answer to this is to invest in the Canadian Blood Services, rather than expand access to a private clinic. When you create a patchwork of private and public collection centres, what you do is lose control of your blood supply," Hornick said.
"You lessen the safety for all Canadians. So we're saying here in Ontario: 'Paid plasma should not be allowed to occur.'"
'There has to be a line,' says advocate
Plasma is the yellowish, protein-rich portion of blood. It supports the immune system and helps to control excessive bleeding, which is why it is used to help treat bleeding disorders, liver diseases and cancer, according to CBS's website.
Hornick said products should not be sold and that using the human body as a profit centre preys upon financially needy people who need to sell body products to survive.
Natalie Mehra, executive director of the Ontario Health Coalition, said at the rally that blood is a critical part of the human body and body parts should not be bought and sold for profit.
"It ought not to be used in an exploitative way to encourage the poor, the desperate to start to sell their blood to try to make enough money to live. There has to be a line. That line is critical. It's critical for the safety of the blood supply," Mehra said.
In a statement on Monday, Grifol said it collects plasma on behalf of CBS and it is "excited" to have Ontario's first Grifols Plasma Donation Centre in Whitby.
"Grifols respects the rights of individuals and groups to peacefully gather and share information and perspectives," Grifols said.
"The plasma we collect in Whitby — and soon in other Ontario centres — will be used to produce lifesaving immunoglobulin medicines for patients in Canada as part of our efforts to fulfil our commitment to Canadian Blood Services and support immunoglobulin self-sufficiency in Canada," Grifol said.
Centre increases plasma collection in Canada, CBS says
CBS, for its part, said its agreement with Grifols is "an important part of our action plan" that increases plasma collection in Canada.
"To clarify, this plan does not mean Canadian Blood Services is privatizing our operations or giving up control of Canada's blood system. Rather, we are increasing Canadian self-sufficiency in the shortest time possible to reduce our reliance on the global market—which is largely dominated by the U.S.," CBS said.
CBS added that, under its agreement with Grifols, every unit of plasma it collects is collected for the benefit of Canadians and is in compliance with relevant legislation.
Ontario's Ministry of Health said in a statement on Monday it is continuing to monitor decisions made by CBS to ensure it delivers a secure supply of plasma products to the province.
"Ensuring an adequate supply of plasma is crucial to meet the demand for plasma products, particularly for individuals who rely on plasma-derived medicinal products for life-saving treatments," the ministry said.
"CBS has developed a comprehensive plan to achieve 50 per cent plasma sufficiency and ensure a secure supply of life-saving treatments for patients. This plan includes increasing plasma collection through new and existing donor centres."