Darmgesundheit Wien is a public health initiative offering accessible, free colorectal cancer screening for eligible residents of Vienna. Developed with the Vienna Health Fund, the Austrian Health Insurance Fund and other partners, the program aims to help people detect colorectal cancer early and identify precancerous changes before they develop further. It is intended for people aged 45 to 75 who have their main residence in Vienna and meet the program’s screening criteria.

Participants can choose between a fecal immunochemical test (FIT), completed at home, and a colonoscopy. The free FIT kit can be ordered online and is delivered to the participant’s home; after collecting a sample, participants return it to a laboratory in a prepaid envelope. Results are provided securely and confidentially, usually within four days of the sample reaching the laboratory. The initiative also provides information about screening, participation, test results and colonoscopy appointments, alongside telephone support through Vienna’s health advice service. Participation is voluntary and carries no cost for eligible participants.