There are AHSCs operating in a number of countries including Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, Japan, the Netherlands, Qatar, Singapore, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States.
In Australia, AHSCs are also referred to as Advanced Health Research & Translation Centres (AHRTCs). AHSCs currently in operation in Australia include:
In Canada, AHSCs are also referred to as Academic Healthcare Organizations. AHSCs currently in operation in Canada include:
In 2007 a review of healthcare in London led by Professor Lord Darzi, A Framework for Action, recommended the creation of a number of AHSCs. In October 2007 Imperial College Healthcare became the first AHSC to be established in the UK when the Imperial College London Faculty of Medicine merged with the Hammersmith Hospital and St Mary's NHS trusts. Four more AHSCs have subsequently been established in the UK and one is planned.
Funding mainly comes from NHS and work was already "in hand to identify the funding" when expressions of interest were solicited. When contracts were signed with NHS in 2013, AHSCs shared among themselves around £60 million of funding.