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“It would be irresponsible for our government to stand by and allow companies to enter our province and put our public blood supply at-risk. We are asking Premier Houston to do what the previous government refused to do and stand up for what is right: keep our blood supply safe and in public control." — Sandra Mullen, NSGEU President
Halifax (20 Sept. 2022) — Sandra Mullen, President of the Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union (NSGEU/NUPGE), is calling on the provincial government to protect Nova Scotians from pay-for-plasma corporate interests. Canadian Blood Servicse has signed a 15-year agreement with multinational corporation Grifols to open private plasma collection centres in Canada. This agreement includes a plan to collect paid-for plasma product.
Pay-for-plasma system undermines lessons from tainted-blood scandal
A move to a pay-for-plasma system undermines the goal of achieving self-sufficiency in blood products — which is actually one of the reasons CBS was created — and may endanger patients. In the early '80s, Canada’s blood supply was rocked by the tainted-blood scandal that killed thousands and infected more than 20,000 Canadians with HIV and Hepatitis C. In the aftermath of this scandal, the Krever inquiry investigated and concluded that that in order to keep Canada’s blood supply safe, we must never pay people for their donations.
“This move by CBS will change the way blood is collected in Canada and not for the better,” said Mullen. “Canadian Blood Services is derelict in their responsibilities to protect Nova Scotians, and in light of this new agreement, it is up to the Premier of Nova Scotia to take action. The NSGEU/NUPGE is calling upon the Tim Houston government to bring forward legislation to ban paid donations of any blood products in Nova Scotia.”
Threat to blood system imminent
The NSGEU/NUPGE has called on previous governments and ministers of Health to bring forward legislation and received the response that there was no imminent threat of paid donations in Nova Scotia. However, CBS’s recent decision to enter into partnership with Grifols is now a clear and present danger.
“It would be irresponsible for our government to stand by and allow companies to enter our province and put our public blood supply at-risk. We are asking Premier Houston to do what the previous government refused to do and stand up for what is right: keep our blood supply safe and in public control," stated Mullen.
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE), of which the NSGEU is a Component, has also called for a ban on pay-for-plasma schemes. It joins global health experts in condemning paying for blood and plasma as an incentive that puts the safety of the blood and plasma supply at risk.
More information:
Canada's blood system in danger, NUPGE calls for end to CBS paid-plasma deal