BEIJING - While applying to get driver's licenses on the mainland, members of the public can agree to give their organs away after they die, said Huang Jiefu, the vice-minister of health.

Under the new initiative, applicants will be asked to indicate if they are willing to donate their organs should they die, and, if so, which organs they would like to donate.

"This will lead to more voluntary organ donations among the public, will to some extent ease the severe shortage in donated organs, and, finally, will save more patients," said Qiu Renzong, a bioethics researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.