A case is made for devoting serious attention to the human element in reducing the world-wide incidence of TB. Poor patient compliance remains the principal cause of treatment failure in both developing and developed nations. Contributory factors to treatment failure include the lack of effective communication between national TB services and private practitioners, physicians’ attitudes, behaviour and lack of understanding of cultural differences in patients’ attitudes to TB, its diagnosis and therapy. Other local factors affecting compliance, the relationship between education and TB control and human factors that impact anti-TB programmes at the national and international levels are discussed.