To no one’s surprise India did not achieve its own targets for ending tuberculosis by year 2025. But did such an aspirational target even help accelerate progress? In this conversation a sober review of the modest pace of progress highlights the need to re-think many of the strategies deployed. While technology may help, there is no short-cut to the core principles of tuberculosis control- action on social determinants and better, less selective and more comprehensive primary health care.

