Two people have died after they went to donate blood at for-profit plasma clinics run by Grifols in Winnipeg, with incidents recorded in October 2025 and January 2026 (ET). Health Canada has opened investigations into the “fatal adverse reactions” and federal inspection reports have flagged failures at some sites. Health advocates are calling for an independent inquest amid questions over oversight and compliance.
What investigators have documented
Health Canada said it received reports of “fatal adverse reactions” following plasma donations in October 2025 and January 2026 (ET). The deaths occurred at facilities operated by the Spanish healthcare company Grifols; in both cases the donors went into “distress” while donating, Health Canada said. Friends identified one donor as Rodiyat Alabede, 22, an international student who donated plasma in Winnipeg on 25 October 2025 (ET); a second person died three months later at another Winnipeg location.
Federal inspection reports cited in the investigation show substantive compliance failures at at least one facility. Inspectors found a site in Saskatchewan inspected in January had failed to “accurately assess the donor’s suitability, ” one of 11 deficiencies that led to a non-compliant rating under the Food and Drugs Act and blood regulations. Other documented failures include issues with “validation, calibration, cleaning, or maintenance of critical equipment” and records that “were not always accurate. ” Health Canada said immediate visits were made to the plasma collection centres after each reported fatality and that records indicated standard operating procedures were being followed.
Official and advocacy reactions
Grifols issued a company statement saying it had “no reason to believe that there is a correlation between the donors’ passing and plasma donation” and that “Every donor undergoes an extensive health history evaluation and physical examination before being deemed eligible to donate. ” The Canadian Blood Service said it was “deeply saddened” by the deaths and that it monitored donor health and followed “the highest safety standards to safeguard both those who donate in our centres and the patients who receive blood products. “
Noah Schulz, executive director of the Manitoba Health Coalition, said he wants “as independent and fulsome an investigation as possible for the loved ones of these Manitobans who died, to get real answers and so that harm like this doesn’t happen in the future. ” Natalie Mehra, executive director of the Ontario Health Coalition, criticized federal approvals tied to collection frequency and warned of safety concerns associated with high-frequency donation patterns.
Donate Blood — context and immediate background
Plasma is the pale yellow component of blood used to make medications for conditions such as haemophilia and to treat burn victims; Grifols operates multiple collection sites in Canada. In recent years, private companies expanding plasma collection have prompted scrutiny over regulatory oversight and the safety of for-profit models.
What comes next
Health Canada said its investigations are continuing and federal inspectors had already documented compliance problems at some sites. Advocacy groups have urged the provincial chief medical examiner to call an independent inquest; the inquest process can examine the full facts surrounding a death and refer findings to other levels of government. Provincial health agencies were notified only recently about the fatalities, even though the first occurred nearly six months earlier. Families, regulators and advocacy groups will be watching whether investigators conclude the incidents were tied to the act to donate blood or to other factors, and whether inspections and licensing will trigger further action.
