Despite being at the midpoint of the Sustainable Development Goals, the world finds itself far from achieving many of its health-related targets. None of the 53 health-related indicators tracked by WHO1 have been fully achieved, and current trends suggest that none are on track to be met. Egypt's health-care reforms provide a relevant case study in this context, offering insights into how a lower-middle-income country can strive toward universal health coverage (UHC) while facing substantial obstacles.