If they didn’t pay (or “pay” with points/gift cards/etc) for people’s donations, most people who donate blood products would stop. Donation isn’t quick or easy, and most people are afraid of needles. Until somebody invents viable substitutes for blood, plasma, platelets and so on there will continue to be a need for blood products, and there needs to be some mechanism to encourage donations.
If they didn’t pay (or “pay” with points/gift cards/etc) for people’s donations, most people who donate blood products would stop. Donation isn’t quick or easy, and most people are afraid of needles. Until somebody invents viable substitutes for blood, plasma, platelets and so on there will continue to be a need for blood products, and there needs to be some mechanism to encourage donations.