Saskatchewan’s largest union is sounding the alarm on for-profit cash-for-blood schemes that present a clear and present danger to Saskatchewan residents.

Following the shocking revelation that two people in Manitoba died after donating plasma at two separate, for-profit Grifols plasma collection clinics, Health Canada has pla­ced terms and con­di­tions on Gri­fols’ blood estab­lish­ment licence. Health Canada’s investigation found the Grifols plasma collection centre in Regina was also non-compliant with rules designed to keep people safe. In addition to allowing someone in Regina to donate plasma twice in 48 hours – a dangerous violation of safety regulations surrounding blood donation – the investigation found “recur­ring, sys­temic defi­cien­cies.”

“It is clear private, for-profit blood plasma clinics cannot be trusted to follow the rules,” said CUPE Saskatchewan President, Kent Peterson, “Scott Moe needs to follow the lead of other provinces and introduce legislation as soon as possible to ban these clinics once and for all,” he added.

The provincial government first allowed private, for-profit blood plasma clinics in 2016. Saskatoon was the location of the first such clinic in Canada, followed by a clinic in Regina. CUPE Saskatchewan first warned of the risks these clinics posed in 2016 and continues to call for them to be banned from the province.

“When the Sask. Party government first allowed these immoral, cash-for-blood operations to set up in Saskatchewan we warned that people could be hurt – or worse,” said Peterson. He added, “Well, with deaths being investigated in Manitoba and the for-profit Grifols clinic in Regina violating donation regulations, it gives me no pleasure to say we were right. The Sask. Party government should have listened to our warnings.”