OBJECTIVES: Assess the state of the art of the studies on economic evaluations in health care in Mexico, regarding their methodological quality and tendencies. METHODS: Systematic review of the research on economic evaluation in health published in Mexico from January 1983 to July 2004. We searched multiple electronic databases, hand-searched key journals and personally contacted investigators in June 2004. Two health economist reviewers independently assessed the relevante of retrieved articles, described the methods of included studies and extrated data that were summarized. Used Drummond criteria; a) to classify in completes (CEE) or parcial evaluation economic (PEE), and b) assessment criteria in quality of methodology. The analysis of the publications characteristics was made with descriptive statistics. Limitation: Included only published studies and possible omitted studies subjectivity in judging certain items. RESULTS: 96 match with inclusion criteria, 24 of them were CEE, 69 were PEE and 3 were editorials. The number of CEE in Mexico increased greatly between 1983-1993 (three studies) and 1994-May 2004 (21 studies). We reviewed 23 CEE studies in extenso. The technique most used was cost-effectiveness (83%). In terms of methodological quality the 78% do not mentioned study perspective, 56.52% do not reported sensitivity analyses, 58.34% do not reported had used the discount rate when it was necessary and 60% do not report clearly the costs. CONCLUSIONS: The study results reveal an increase in CEE in México in the last ten years, with low quality methodology. There is a need to elaborate and validate guidelines for economic evaluation in health for Mexico by unified quality standards in order to have internal and external validity.