[Teaching-assistance integration: an experience of continuing education for service personnel. Colombia]

The article describes an experience in the integration of teaching assistance involving personnel from health clinics and centers. The educational methodology was based on participation, and great progress was made in the development of health workers (professionals, technicians, auxiliaries, and promoters). However, the authors point out that the educational process in itself was not a factor in leading to better services, nor did it have a qualitative impact on the dynamics of preventive and curative assistance. The determining factor is the existing organization of the society where the program was carried out. Given this organization, it is fairly unlikely that new educational methods will be really meaningful because of the structural, social, political and economic constraints that characterize the Colombian system.