The Canadian Press reports, “A controversial Ontario company that pays people for their blood plasma is set to begin recruiting donors in New Brunswick. Canadian Plasma Resources CEO Barzin Bahardoust says Health Canada has reviewed and approved the processes at their new Moncton collection centre, but inspectors still need to see it in operation before granting a licence.”
The article highlights, “Bahardoust said they will use social media to attract about 30 donors, starting May 1, for the inspection period.” Canadian Plasma Resources hopes to get final approval from Health Canada by early June.
The Trudeau government approved Canadian Plasma Resources opening the first private, for-profit plasma donation clinic in Saskatoon in February 2016.
Plasma is the largest single component of blood and contains over 700 proteins and other substances which are used to make medical products. These products are then used as treatments that can potentially help save the lives of people suffering from burns, shock, trauma, and other medical emergencies.
The Council of Canadians believes plasma must be treated as a public resource, not an opportunity for pharmaceutical industry profits.
Ontario and Quebec have enacted legislation that bans paying donors for plasma, while the Alberta government introduced similar legislation last month. We have also called on the British Columbia government to ban these clinics (especially given reports that Canadian Plasma Resources is eyeing Kelowna for their next clinic).
The Council of Canadians has been opposing the opening of for-profit blood plasma collection clinics since March 2013.
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