Paying for plasma a slippery slope
In the 1980s, hemophiliacs received Factor VIII treatment that was contaminated with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C.
The tainted blood scandal forced the industry to re-examine mitigating risk to patients. That included reconsidering the practice of pooling large volumes of blood and plasma from different sources.
An investigation into the tainted blood and plasma supply culminated in the Krever Inquiry (1997), with over 50 recommendations, including invoking the precautionary principle. That report and its recommendations are still considered the gold standard around the world.
Canadian Blood Services (CBS) became Canada’s blood authority in 1998. In 2022, CBS held backroom meetings with Grifols, a Spanish multinational pharmaceutical and chemical manufacturer and the largest worldwide producer of plasma products.
These discussions would eventually manifest into a private-public partnership (P3) intended to privatize the Canadian plasma supply system.
The deal would make CBS a major stakeholder financially profiting from the harvesting and selling of Canadian plasma.
During a 2022 interview I had with Kat Lanteigne, co-founder and executive director of BloodWatch.org, she stated, “fundamentally, the question is and has always been, should we privatize blood collection in Canada? And, should we be making a profit off of Canadian plasma?”
Lanteigne went on to say, “it’s an unconscionable act because they (CBS) are a charity. And, that’s getting missed in this discussion.”
Over 40 per cent of the intravenous immune globulin (IV Ig) that is used worldwide is not based on clinical evidence. Even the auditor general of Ontario has determined that plasma products are being overused. Yet, profitability has led to the aggressive, for-profit plasmacollection industry.
Health Canada doesn’t regulate for-profit plasma collection companies, they just license them. That means restricting these corporations falls on provincial and territorial governments.
In 2014, Ontario passed the Voluntary Blood Protection Act prohibiting for-profit plasma centres. That year, the Wynne government prevented a total of three paid plasma-collection sites from opening.
BloodWatch.org has confirmation in writing from Health Canada that should this contract be carried out, the plasma collected at these sites could be sold on the international market by CBS or Grifols without violating either federal or provincial law. That would undermine the plasma supply chain in Ontario and potentially across Canada.
Europe limits plasma donations to once every two weeks. CBS recommends donating no more than once every seven days. In the U.S., where folks can sell their plasma twice a week, over 80 per cent of the plasma is collected from vulnerable, poor and abject poor populations.
Frequent plasma sellers experience higher rates of lower blood protein levels, increased risk of infection, and liver and kidney problems.
The for-profit plasma industry has targeted racialized and disadvantaged neighbourhoods drawing from those living with chronic poverty, the unhoused, university students and middle-class families suffering economic hardship.
Selling plasma often becomes an important source of income to make ends meet.
However, selling a part of one’s body should never be a viable solution to poverty.
The World Health Organization (WHO) had a goal to make worldwide blood and plasma donations 100 per cent voluntary by 2020. The WHO also believes every country should be working toward self-sufficiency.
Paid plasma collection opens the door to privatizing Canada’s blood supply, putting profits before patient needs in the market-driven global environment. That will turn blood and plasma into commodities to be bought by the highest international bidder.
This push for privatization is happening after CBS received $20 million to open11plasma donation centres during COVID-19. Donation rates were so overwhelming that CBS planned 11 additional donation centres.
BloodWatch.org has organized a letter-writing campaign and is encouraging Ontarians to contact Health Minister Sylvia Jones, their MPP and MP requesting the Ontario Voluntary Blood Protection Act be upheld.
Bravo Mayor Andrea Horwath for making Hamilton a “paid-plasmafree” city.
Hear from those who know exactly why Canada needs a moratorium placed on paying for plasma.