On the outbreak of war in 1914, Bhatia volunteered as a surgical dresser on HMHS Guildford Castle.

[1] He completed his degree in 1917, and following graduation was appointed a temporary lieutenant in the Indian Medical Service (IMS), effective from 8 April 1917.

[7] The same year, he was appointed professor of physiology and hygiene at Grant Medical College in Bombay, becoming its first Indian dean in 1925.

[8][9] On 27 October 1937, Bhatia was appointed principal of the Grant Medical College and superintendent of the Jamsetji Jeejeebhoy Hospital Group.

[13] He was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire (CIE) in the 1946 New Year Honours list.