Introduction:

The relevance of medications for health depends on their quality, accessibility and appropriate use.

Objective:

To determine the potential therapeutic value of antibiotics that are not included in the World Health Organization Essential Medicines List (EML) but that are part of the National Essential Medicines List (NEML) of the Mexican Ministry of Health, and categorize them according to their intrinsic value.

Method:

Descriptive analysis of antibiotics not included in the 2013 World Health Organization EML; literature review to obtain efficacy and safety evidence; and application of quality and intrinsic value scales.

Results:

Four hundred and fifty-two abstracts were identified for 19 antibiotics; 56.9 % were excluded; 195 clinical trials were reviewed in full-text articles, out of which 37.9 % were of good quality, and intrinsic value was determined; 54 % were superiority studies, whereas 46 % were non-inferiority or equivalence studies; 32 % of the antibiotics were classified without intrinsic value and nearly 50 % were inconclusive.

Conclusion:

An elevated proportion of antibiotics of the NEML had uncertain or no intrinsic value, which favors their inappropriate use, bacterial resistance and puts the population at risk.