We conducted a colorectal cancer (CRC) screening program, in which public pharmacies provided the faecal occult blood test (FOBT), addressed to 50-70 years residents of 12th Municipality of Rome. A total of 5003 subjects were invited and 1103 (22.0%) performed the screening test, the adjusted compliance was 24.0%. Among 72 (6.5%) FOBT-positive subjects, 50 (69.5%) had colonoscopies; a CRC was detected in 5 subjects. Screening through the public pharmacies was feasible but the limited number of pharmacies enrolled have influenced compliance. A screening model that offers multiple providers (including private pharmacies) should be tested in order to improve screening compliance.