Thoughts from Vancouver: Stigma’s role in discrimination
In a little more than an hour, I will be participating in a consultation with Canadian Blood Services. They drew my ire after a stunt earlier this year in which…
Canadian Blood Services
CBS CEO backpedals on paying Canadians for their plasma
The Chief Executive Officer of Canadian Blood Services is doing some damage control by backtracking on the agency’s position on plasma collection. In an internal blog post last week, Dr.…
Bloodwatch.org calls out minister over for-profit paid-donor plasma clinics
A lobby group fighting to ban paid-donor blood clinics is accusing the federal government of misleading the public. Bloodwatch.org is taking on the Health Minister Jane Philpott, for allowing a…
Why are we risking Canada’s blood supply – again?
The tainted blood scandal was the worst public health disaster in Canadian history. In the 1980s and 1990s, more than 30,000 Canadians became infected with HIV and Hepatitis C. This…
Tories unlikely to stop Bill prohibiting paid plasma, but why are they even trying?
The Ontario Tories recently have appeared to be distancing themselves from some of the more unpopular positions adopted by the party under Tim Hudak. Voting for second reading of an…
Blood services staff fuming over blame for low inventory
Canadian Blood Services is telling staff that national blood inventory levels are at their lowest since 2008. In a memo sent out September 30, Chief Supply Chain Officer Ian Mumford…
Tainted reminds us why we should never forget Canada’s greatest public health disaster
It’s been more than two years since we said goodbye to the staff and donors of Canadian Blood Services’ Thunder Bay plasma collection centre. October 30 we will be returning…
Paid Plasma Debate: The Atlantic describes how desperate donors deceive plasma screeners
When it comes to collection of plasma for pharmaceutical purposes, Canada appears to be on the verge of becoming more like the United States. That may not be a good…
Big-pharma backed patient groups attack bill banning paid blood and plasma collection
The current debate over paid plasma donation has brought out a number of patient groups – including those funded by big-pharma – that are suggesting Canada has no choice but…
Will Act banning paid blood and plasma collection die in committee?
All the election talk raises the question of whether the opposition parties will pull the plug on the present minority government before passage of a bill that will ban paid…
Take Action: Swift passage of Act needed to stop paid plasma donation in Ontario
It’s been almost two years since we stumbled upon a plan by a private for-profit company to open a series of clinics that would pay Canadian donors for plasma. The…
Bob Rae asks why Health Canada is taking so long to say no to paid plasma donations
In 2013 Health Canada held a by-invitation-only roundtable on the issue of paid plasma donations following our efforts to raise concerns over the application by the private Canadian Plasma Resources…
2nd recall in 10 months raises concerns at blood agency
The message was sent out at 4:06 pm on a Friday to staff at Canadian Blood Services. Described as a “developing situation,” Chief Operating Officer Ian Mumford told workers that…
Significant blood shortage occurring before rival competes for arms
Back in April Dr. Graham Sher appeared unconcerned about having to compete for donors against a rival organization willing to pay for what his Canadian Blood Services receives for free.…
Deb Matthews enters paid blood donation debate
Ontario Health Minister Deb Matthews has asked Health Canada to delay licensing of three new clinics that would pay donors for blood plasma. This new clinics represent a fundamental change…
The best of Diablogue in 2012
It’s time for us to take our seasonal break and wish the best of the season to all our readers and posters. Next year will be challenging for health care…
CBS warns of coming job losses in national meeting with labour
Canadian Blood Services says the organization of the future is going to require fewer people. Caught in a funding squeeze by their provincial funders, CBS says they have to compete…
CBS: Deb Matthews’ indifference costing quality jobs in northern Ontario
Health Minister Deb Matthews is often regarded by the media as one of the front runners to replace Dalton McGuinty as Ontario Premier – a surprise given the intense scrutiny…