First, a declaration of experience. I worked for several years as a negotiator for the Canadian Red Cross in after federal and provincial decided to shift responsibility for blood donations to new agencies.
That experience led me to work with many wonderful people whose lives were turned upside down by having received tainted blood. The Red Cross had to learn many difficult, painful lessons from mistakes made.
Canada is now at risk of throwing these lessons out the window. Private clinics, which would pay people for blood donations which would then be used to make plasma for sale around the world, have applied for licences from both the federal government and the government of Ontario.
Things should never have gone this far. Hema-Quebec, the provincial agency that took over from the Red Cross in that province, has made it clear it wants nothing to do with “pay for blood” schemes. Canadian Blood Services has also come out against it. The World Health Organization and the Federal Drug Administration have both said they want to move to “donation only” as their standard by 2020.
Those countries that have allowed “pay for plasma” schemes are regretting the decision. The reason is simple, and is based on practical evidence. These clinics typically rely on people who need the money. There is every reason to question the safety of the supply. Just as important, paying some people depletes the pool of potential donors, particularly among younger people who blood agencies around the world are trying to recruit to give blood as volunteers.
For whatever reason, it’s taking federal and provincial governments a long time to make up their minds. It shouldn’t. The integrity of the blood supply, and our continuing resolve to keep a strong volunteer base, should make the answer simple: no to “pay for blood or plasma”. Period.
5 Comments
Thanks for this Bob. I’ve been writing about it too:
http://raisethehammer.org/article/1825/paying_blood_donors:_ignoring_the_past_and_endangering_the_future
I can’t believe it’s still under consideration.
Glad to have you in our corner. See our blog on the Impact Ethics Website.
http://impactethics.ca/2013/08/06/policy-laundering-and-payment-for-plasma/
As a nurse that uses the IVIG’s that come from this plasma source, let me give you a small lesson in the facts about remunerated plasma. 80% of all plasma used for these much needed IV therapies come from paid donors in the United States. The plasma is held in quarantine until that donor has had two visits with negative test results. The fractionation process further eliminates ANY virus, known, or unknown. The donor screening process is rigorous and highly regulated. Volunteer plasma from Canadian Blood Services is transfused after just one negative test and there is no virus deactivation process to stop unknown viruses.
Canada is the worlds #1 consumer of the IV therapies produced from remunerated plasma. It would be hypocritical to disallow a Canadian Company from collecting source plasma, while importing it from paid donors in the U.S.. What you call a “scheme” is a producer of raw materials in a highly regulated biologic/pharmaceutical industry. Donors are paid for their time because of the lengthy collection process. I really hope nobody you know ever needs these life saving drugs, but if they do, wouldn’t you want them to come from a source that Health Canada oversees?? Please stop practicing such uninformed FEAR MONGERING!!! These are the facts! Look them up for yourself!
Hello Gina,
As a nurse you should then know, that Canadian Plasma Resources wants to collect plasma to export it on the world market. There is absolutely no guarantee that it will have any impact on “life-saving” medication that we use in Canada. Moreover, the WHO wants all paid collection to end by 2020. In Quebec, they have made it illegal to buy and sell plasma because it’s a body part and have now opened up their very own plasma clinic. We do not need to have a massive shift in our health policy to facilitate the bottom line of a company who wants to make a profit off of exporting our plasma. There is no worldwide shortage and these plasma clinics are not needed. They simply want to “get in on the business” of profiting from the lucrative market of plasma as a commodity. We are not fear mongering, we are stating facts. As a nurse, you should know that healthcare is preventative, and we need to be vigilant in ensuring we have control over our blood system when the next virus comes along. You are without all of the facts and documentation. I am more than happy to provide you with copies of what you need in order to educate yourself.
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