2 people die after giving plasma at for-profit Winnipeg collection centres: Health Canada
CBC
CBC News has learned two people — including a 22-year-old international student — died after giving plasma at Winnipeg collection centres that pay people for their donations.
The deaths are under review by Health Canada, which confirmed it received two reports of fatal adverse reactions in plasma donors — one in October of last year and another on Jan. 30, 2026.
The federal regulator says it is still assessing these reports and has not made a link between the plasma collection and deaths.
Rodiyat Alabede died on Oct. 25 after friends say the 22-year-old went to an appointment at the Grifols Plasma Donation Centre on Taylor Avenue to give plasma.
"She was always happy. She had so many dreams, especially when she came to Canada," said one of her close friends, Mary Ann Chika. "She held a big place in my heart."
Originally from Nigeria, Alabede moved to Winnipeg in 2022 to study at the University of Winnipeg, with the goal of becoming a social worker.
She had a passion for helping people and wanted to work with people with disabilities, Chika said.
Chika wasn't there when her friend went to Grifols, but was the one to identify Alabede in hospital after she was pronounced dead.
She said doctors didn't have much information to share, but told her Alabede's heart stopped beating while she was giving her plasma at the centre.
"And before she arrived at the hospital, she had already passed," Chika said.
According to Health Canada, the second reported fatal adverse reaction happened on Jan. 30 after a donation at Grifols' Innovation Drive location. The spokesperson couldn't provide any more details on the identity of the person, citing privacy laws.
Grifols, a Spanish-based company which specializes in producing plasma medicines, has over a dozen plasma collection centres in Canada.
The for-profit company has operated in Winnipeg since 2022 after acquiring Canadian Plasma Resources. It runs two centres locally — one on Taylor Avenue and one on Innovation Drive — where people are paid for their plasma.
A representative for Grifols declined an interview request.
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CBC News has learned two people — including a 22-year-old international student — died after giving plasma at Winnipeg collection centres that pay people for their donations.
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