Abstract
A universal regimen. At times this appears to be the Holy Grail in tuberculosis treatment. For decades, policy makers, public health specialists, and donors have argued that in order to control—and these days to “End TB”—a simplified approach that offers everyone the same regimen is our best bet. They argue that countries, programmes, and the people who work in them, are incapable of managing complexity when it comes to tackling tuberculosis. Fears abound that recommending anything other than a basic treatment algorithm will lead to mismanagement and a tuberculosis crisis worse that what we see now. Never mind that such an approach erases patient individuality and unique human treatment needs. “Keep it simple” remains the mantra in tuberculosis control to this day.
