Health Canada on September 23 suspended the operating licence of Grifols' plasma collection centre on Taylor Avenue in Winnipeg and ordered a stop to all plasma collections.
The decision follows the regulator's identification of compliance problems at the facility. Health Canada has authority to suspend licences when a centre does not meet required regulatory standards.
Grifols, a for‑profit plasma collection company that runs the Winnipeg centre, issued a statement indicating that donor safety was not compromised by the identified issues. The company added that it is preparing a plan to address the regulator’s concerns and to seek reinstatement of the licence.
The suspension means that the Taylor Avenue clinic will remain closed to donors until Health Canada is satisfied that corrective actions have been implemented. The halt affects the flow of plasma collected for the company's operations and may have implications for the broader plasma supply chain, though no specific impact has been quantified.
Health Canada’s action underscores the agency’s role in overseeing the safety and compliance of medical collection sites across Canada. Facilities that fail to adhere to the standards can face immediate suspension, as demonstrated in this case.
Grifols has indicated its intention to work with the regulator to resolve the compliance issues and to resume collections as soon as possible. No further details about the nature of the compliance problems have been released.
Health Canada is tasked with ensuring that plasma collection facilities comply with national safety and quality standards, and it holds the authority to suspend licences when those standards are not met.