Such cults generally fall into one of three types:

Those centered on certain shrines or holy places,

Those centered on certain organizations,

And those centered on particular persons.

The tendency to concentrate healing activities in specialized sacred organizations also arises from the length of training required to master the arts of healing, the need for special equipment and libraries, and the expense of maintaining such facilities--all of which may be readily borne by settled religious communities.

Healing may be accomplished by those who derive powers from their place.

More frequently, however, individuals are believed to cure by means of a special gift or sacred commission.
They are holy men, and one means by which their sacredly is manifested by their power to heal.
This power may be revealed in a vision, it may be sought after, or it may be accidentally discovered that an individual possesses such abilities.

Almost every religious founder, saint, and prophet has been credited with the ability to heal--either as a demonstration of or as a consequence of his holiness.
In every culture there are also specialists who have gone through extraordinary initiations that confer curative powers upon them.
These individuals (e.g., shamans, medicine men, folk doctors) may fill a cultural niche alongside certain religious groups.
Some work within an established religious tradition but concentrate their energies primarily upon healing.

Others have founded their own religious communities that maintain a focus on healing.

Medical and Alternative Medical Terminology, Explanations -  by Courtesy of Encyclopedia Britannica® 2001