Manitoba Health Minister says banning paid plasma an option after 2 deaths

Paid plasma could be banned in Manitoba, the province's health minister said after two fatal adverse reactions at Winnipeg collection centres were reported to Health Canada.

This comes after a CBC investigation that revealed the fatal adverse reactions happened within four months of each other — one in October of last year and another on Jan. 30, 2026.

"I would say that public safety is our top priority, and so the option of banning paid plasma in Manitoba is an option that is on the table," Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara said Wednesday. 

The deaths are under review by Health Canada, and a spokesperson said they have not found a link between the deaths and plasma collection. Grifols, who operates the Winnipeg centres, said it has "no reason to believe" they are connected.

Plasma is a protein-rich liquid that helps treat bleeding disorders, liver diseases and cancer.  Grifols, a Spanish-based company that specializes in producing plasma medicines, has more than 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.

The minister said they won't do anything until Health Canada finishes its review of the deaths. 

“We won't take any steps until we have the full investigation completed and the results of that in front of us," Asagwara said.

Friends say Rodiyat Alabede died on Oct. 25 after her heart stopped while giving plasma at the Taylor Avenue location.

Alabede's friends remembered her as a kind person with a big heart, who wanted to eventually become a social worker. She came to Canada from Nigeria and was studying at the University of Winnipeg.

"It's obviously a devastating situation that families are now facing — that two loved ones, two Manitobans, tragically pass away after, [from] my understanding, going to donate plasma," the minister said.

Little is known about the second person who died, other than Grifols reported to Health Canada that the fatal adverse reaction happened on Jan. 30 at the Innovation Drive location.  

Both the federal health regulator and Grifols declined to give any information, citing privacy concerns. 

The spokesperson for Grifols said they "were saddened to learn of the recent passing of two of our donors."