Conservatives require research into the use of the Spanish drugstore of Canadian donated blood plasma

Conservative MPs are calling for a parliamentary investigation into the use of Canadian donated blood plasma by the Spanish drugstore Grifols to sell medicines overseas. This call to action comes after a Globe and Mail investigation revealed that Canadian Blood Services is selling blood components to Grifols to produce a product called albumin.

Plasma, a vital component of blood used for transfusions and therapies like immunoglobulin, is collected by both CBS and Grifols in Canada. However, Grifols pays donors while CBS does not. This complex arrangement has raised concerns about the use of Canadian plasma for profit by a foreign company.

In a letter to the House of Commons Health Committee, six conservative MPs expressed their concerns about the disturbing details uncovered in the investigation. They also highlighted the fact that Brookfield Asset Management Ltd., a major player in the private equity sector, had looked into acquiring Grifols last year. This raised questions about potential conflicts of interest, as Mark Carney, who was the chairman of Brookfield at the time, later became the Prime Minister of Canada.

The MPs recommended recalling the Health Committee to investigate the use of Grifols-donated plasma by Canadian Blood Services and the possible conflicts of interest stemming from the Prime Minister’s ties to Brookfield. The Canadian Health Coalition, a group advocating for the public health system, also supported the call for an investigation.

Canadian Blood Services has had a longstanding relationship with Grifols, with the Spanish company serving as a supplier of immunoglobulin and collaborating on a national plasma collection strategy. The 15-year partnership agreement allows Grifols to act as an “agent” of CBS in Ontario, bypassing laws prohibiting payment for plasma donations.

Both CBS and Grifols have defended their partnership, citing the need to boost domestic immunoglobulin supply in Canada. Grifols stated that it is proud of its agreement with CBS and remains committed to fulfilling its obligations. CBS acknowledged that the partnership has helped increase its self-supply of plasma products, reducing costs and addressing global shortages.

Plasmatherapies account for a significant portion of CBS’s annual budget, with the agency spending millions on plasma proteins and related products. The majority of CBS’s funding comes from provincial and territorial authorities, highlighting the importance of maintaining a sustainable and ethical supply chain for blood products in Canada.