In view of the energy crisis and high inflation, hospital group Asklepios believes that clinics cannot make ends meet without help.
"In view of the acute inflation, it is urgently necessary to support the hospitals that have been burdened by the pandemic in order to be able to guarantee high-quality care in the future," said the head of the clinic operator, Kai Hankeln, on Thursday when the half-year figures were presented.
In addition to a short-term adjustment for inflation, far-reaching structural reforms are necessary.
"Otherwise we run the risk of catapulting Germany's hospitals into a dangerous downward economic spiral."
The company spoke of a disproportionately increasing cost of materials.
"The reason for this is the price increases for energy, fuel and medical supplies."
With the takeover of Rhön-Klinikum, Asklepios became the second largest private clinic operator in Germany after Fresenius Helios.
The group currently operates more than 170 medical facilities nationwide with around 67,000 employees and treats more than 3.5 million patients.
Group sales rose by 3.3 percent to EUR 2.61 billion in the first half of the year.
Despite higher personnel and material costs, the bottom line for the first half of the year was a higher profit of 55.1 million (previous year: 43 million).
"In the further course of the financial year, Asklepios sees a possible impairment of business development due to persistently high inflation and the uncertain energy supply situation."