On the call given by his father, Dharmaveera K. Govindaswamy, to serve the poor in the field of healthcare, Bakthavathsalam returned to India in 1973. In 1974, his father, Dharmaveera K Govindaswamy Naidu set up KG Hospital.[citation needed]
Initially, what started as 10-beds and 1 doctor hospital, KG Hospital has grown into a 550-bedded multi, super specialized post graduate medical center.[citation needed]
He established the K.G. Eye Hospital, where 85,000 free Cataract surgeries have been done for the poor. The eye surgeries were paid for by the Lions club. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, the former president of India, mentioned KG Hospital's efforts in his book India 2020.[citation needed]
Under Bakthavathsalam's leadership, KG Hospital has performed 1600 free heart surgeries and 1,500 dialysis free of cost.[citation needed] Under KG Hospital's little hearts scheme, 500 heart operations have been performed on children and 35,000 children have been screened
for heart diseases.[citation needed] Further, over 300,000 adults have been screened free of cost for blood pressure[citation needed] and 35,000 accident victims have been saved.[citation needed] KG Hospital routinely conducts rural medical camps - 14 lakh + people have been screened free through this initiative.[citation needed]
Throughout his career in the healthcare sector, Bakthavathsalam has held numerous positions, including: Prof. of Surgery, Govt. Royapettah Hospital, Madras; Registrar of Surgery, Coimbatore Medical College, (1969–73); Surgical Registrar - Altoona Hospital, Altoona, Pennsylvania, United States, (1973); Fellow in GI Endoscopy at Tokyo University, Japan (1984); Consultant Surgeon - G. Kuppusamy Naidu Memorial Hospital, Coimbatore (1978); Recognized Guide for Ph.D. research students of Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, (since 1985); Hon. Prof. of Surgery - PSG Institute of Medical Sciences & Research, Coimbatore (1988).
He has served as president of: Uro Lithiasis Project Scheme (ICMR), Indian Medical Association (1986–87); Association of Surgeons of India—Coimbatore; Accident Care Association of Coimbatore; Coimbatore Hospitals' Association; Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy of India (1991)
Memberships
He has also been a member of national and regional committees in India, including the following.
He currently holds management positions in various KG Group ventures, including KG Hospital, The Kannapiran Mills, The Kadri Mills, KG Healthcare, and KG Information Systems Private Limited.
In 2003, he received the Life Time Achievement Award from Salem Gastro Centre.
In 2005, he received the Padma Shri (for his work in medicine) from the then President of IndiaA. P. J. Abdul Kalam. The same year he received The Jewel of Coimbatore Award and the PSG Dinstinguished Alumni.
In 2011, he received the Pro-Life Award, by the Life for All and Life International USA, The Dr. K.P. Misra Endowment Oration Award, by the Sri Jagannath Spirutual Educational Cultural Trust & The Utkal Association of Madras, and an Honorary Fellowship, by the Quality Council of India, New Dehli.
In 2016, he received the Dharma Veera Award, by the Medical Fraternity of Coimbatore Region.
In 2017, he received the TMPA LIMRA Excellence Award, from the Tamilnadu Medical Practitioners Association, and the Award of appreciation - 2017, of Tamil Nadu Government for outstanding performance in Organ Transplant related activities. He also received the Award for Excellence Teaching DNB Programmes.
In 2019, he received the Great Divine Healer Award by the Coimbatore Mutipurpose Social Service Society, the Eminent Educator Award from VGM Foundation, Coimbatore, the Jewel of India Award from Prajapita Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya, Mt. Abu, Rajasthan, and the Thought Leader Award from the KG Hospital's Postgraduates & CRRIs.[citation needed]
