OBJECTIVES: Estimate the cost of procurement-surgery-follow up for corneal transplant to be covered by public institutions in Mexico, in the context of the National Transplant Program. The estimation is important, because according to economic evaluation studies in Mexico, corneal transplant is considered a very cost effective intervention. However, there is a considerable list of patients awaiting corneal transplant. This situation urges forward the Ministry of Health to analyze the various aspects involved in the corneal procurement-transplant process. METHODS: A micro-costing was developed considering the clinical treatment protocol developed by the collegiate body of the General Health Council of Mexico. The protocol includes three phases: preoperative, surgery and follow-up. Each phase requires a number of studies, medical supplies, medicines and medical staff. The unit cost of required inputs are obtained from the public health sector. RESULTS: The total cost of the procurement-surgery-follow up of corneal transplant, was USD$2,037. The phase that represents the lowest percentage of total cost is the preoperative (13.4%), the greatest cost comes in the stage of surgery with USD$1,042 (46.4%). This stage includes the most expensive supply (trephine) as well as the cost of the procurement process. Finally, the follow up phase amounts to USD$722 which represents the cost of medical visits and drug therapy for one year. CONCLUSIONS: The results allow estimating the total cost of corneal transplant in the context of public institutions in Mexico. This estimate provides vital information for the decision making process of developing sustainable strategies for the abatement of the list of patients waiting for corneal transplantation.