OBJECTIVES: To evaluate whether it is accepted that community pharmacies identify elderly people which are at risk for osteoporosis and furthermore evaluate the effectiveness of community pharmacies to motivate identified patients at risk for osteoporosis to consult a physician for further diagnosis and treatment. METHODS: Prospective multi-centre pre-post evaluation in 20 community pharmacies in Southern Germany including 765 patients. The screening for risk for osteoporosis was based on an adapted osteoporosis risk-questionnaire of the “Kuratorium Knochengesundheit e.V. - German Self-Help-Group“. Patients with identified risk were consulted with regard to the disease osteoporosis and recommended to see a physician for further diagnosis. A maximum of 2 follow-up contacts were undertaken to receive information whether or not a physician was seen by the patient. RESULTS: Out of 765 patients, which were interviewed using the osteoporosis risk-questionnaire 53% were identified being at risk and thus were requested to contact their physician. 66% of these patients did respond to the recommendation by the community pharmacy and did see a physician for consultation and further diagnosis of osteoporosis. As a result, an anti-osteoporotic pharmacotherapy was initiated in 33% of those patients who saw a physician. Overall, 57% of patients indicated their satisfaction with the service provided by the pharmacy and 64% agreed that a community pharmacy is an appropriate place to offer screening for osteoporosis. CONCLUSION: Community pharmacies are easy to access by elderly people and a screening for osteoporosis using an osteoporosis screening risk-questionnaire was accepted by the majority of patients.