The Star Phoenix: Duncan defends controversial blood plasma clinic in Saskatoon

Posted on: August 2nd, 2016 by webmaster

Health Minister Dustin Duncan defended the opening in Saskatoon of a blood plasma collection clinic that pays its donors.

“We’re pleased they have chosen to open the first one in Saskatchewan. We certainly believe we need to be a part of the solution when it comes to increasing our self-sufficiency when it comes to plasma in Canada, and this is a part,” Duncan said Thursday at the opening of the Canadian Plasma Resources (CPR) clinic.

The province has assured CPR it will not pass legislation similar to Ontario’s, which effectively bans the paid collection of plasma, Duncan said.

“Personally, I just fundamentally disagree with the position Ontario took,” he said. “It’s interesting they passed legislation to ban the collection of plasma on a paid basis but they didn’t introduce legislation to ban the importation of plasma products that came from a paid donor.”

Read the full article and watch the video on The Star Phoenix web site.