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Carafagna said the $2 million plan will involve using an estimated 35 groups of Clown Doctors to brighten the days of young patients throughout Italy through hospital visits, the Italian news agency ANSA reported.

"The idea is reduce the stress of hospital recovery and make our pediatric wards a little more child-friendly", Carafagna said.

"We think a little laughter is important to the healing process, especially for kids, and we're happy to support any effort to do that."

Rome pediatrician Alberto Ugazio said clown doctors have already been used at his Bambino Gesu hospital and have proven beneficial even to long-term care patients.

"Those can be pretty difficult places to cheer people up", Ugazio said of the hematology and oncology units.

"But they work in teams together with the doctors and nurses and really help to lighten the mood", he told ANSA of the clowns' abilities to improve patients' morale.

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