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Meeting patients' needs for plasma-derivatives is an ongoing challenge. Canada is currently 100% self-sufficient in supply of whole-blood and fresh frozen plasma for transfusions (though donations are always required to keep it that way). However, altruistic donations of plasma for manufacturing of plasma-derivatives (that are used in treatment of patients with immunodeficiency and autoimmune diseases, bleeding disorders and other rare diseases) meet only 17% of the demand. The remainder of plasma products used in Canada are imported from commercial companies in the US and beyond who use paid donors. As such, Canada is one of the top users of processed plasma products from other countries.

The World Health Organization recommends the elimination of paid donations to ensure blood safety and availability; however, this recommendation is not always heeded. In 2013, Canadian Plasma Resourses’ (CPR), a private, for profit, organization planned to open pay-for-plasma clinics in Toronto and Hamilton. The company’s plans prompted public debate about the issue, and eventually, Ontario passed legislation banning compensation for blood and blood components. To date, Québec, Alberta, and British Columbia have similar legislation. Although the clinics in Ontario did not open, CPR has active clinics in Moncton and Saskatoon. On February 25th, 2018 CBC Radio One program The Sunday Edition hosted a debate about financial compensation (cash payment) for plasma providers. On the debate, Dr. Sher (CEO, Canadian Blood Services) affirmed public concerns about the shortage of donations and explained that Canadian Blood Services’ plans to improve access, rather than incentivize participation through financial compensation. In his words, “the question is not should we or should we not rely on remunerated donors. We do today. Eighty-five per cent of the supply comes from the United States, where they pay their plasma donors. The issue in Canada is, how do we want to solve the domestic security of supply concern? …Do we want a public sector solution which guarantees security of supply for Canadians, or do we welcome private sector players into the Canadian market who will sell the plasma anywhere on the international market to the highest bidder?”

At the moment, laws on blood and plasma donations are regulated at two levels. Health Canada regulates the safety of donations, and the provincial governments regulate payment. However, that division could change. The Voluntary Blood Donations Act (An Act to amend the Blood Regulations) is currently passing through the senate. The Act proposes that in addition to further regulations laid out in the Blood Regulations: ‘An establishment, other than Canadian Blood Services, must not collect allogeneic blood for remuneration or benefit for the donor unless the blood collected is of a rare phenotype’.  In effect, this act is an answer to Dr. Sher’s well-timed question. The act passed the Second Reading in the Senate on October 25, 2018, and is currently being reviewed by the Social Affairs Committee at the Senate. The regulatory text is open to the public for comment. Senator Pamela Wallin has spoken to the committee about the bill; if you are interested in commenting on the bill, submissions should be sent to:

For further information, view Senator Wallin on why she wants the Senate to support her bill.

Last  updated  Winter 2019

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