Introduction: Distance education (ODL) opens up a parallel, new teaching alternatives, how to implement the distance learning methodology, the need to perform the subjects in 20% of their workload, in the institutions of teaching, for this, it is evident, the questioning to be unveiled. Objective: To analyze the structure of distance education, and the importance of implementing the distance modality in higher education in health, described in scientific publications. Methodology: This is a systematic, cross-sectional, exploratory study with a qualitative