(1) There shall be a secretariat for the National Commission to be headed by a Secretary, to be appointed by the Central Government in accordance with the provisions of section 5.
(2) The Secretary of the National Commission shall be a person of outstanding ability, proven administrative capacity and integrity, possessing such qualifications and experience, as may be prescribed.
(3) The Secretary shall hold the office for a term of four years and shall not be eligible for any extension or reappointment.
(4) The Secretary shall also be the Member Secretary of each of the Autonomous Boards constituted under section 11.
(5) The Secretary shall discharge such functions of the National Commission and that of each of the Autonomous Boards constituted under section 11, as may be specified by regulations.
(6) The National Commission may, for the optimum discharge of its functions under this Act, appoint such officers, and other employees of the National Commission other than the Secretary, as it considers necessary, against the posts created by the Central Government as recommended by the National Commission.
(7) The salaries and allowances payable to and other terms and conditions of service of the Secretary, officers and other employees of the National Commission shall be such, as may be prescribed.
(8) The National Commission may engage, in accordance with the procedure, such number of experts, consultants and professionals of integrity and outstanding ability, as may be specified by regulations, who have special knowledge of, and experience in such fields, including nursing and midwifery education, public health nursing, management, health economics, quality assurance, patient advocacy, nursing research, science and technology, administration, finance, information technology, statistics, nursing informatics, accounts and law, as it deems necessary, to assist the National Commission in the discharge of its functions under this Act.
(9) The National Commission may also invite, in accordance with the procedure, such number of experts and domain specialists from foreign countries to the meetings of the National Commission, as may be specified by regulations, who have special knowledge of nursing and midwifery curriculum, practical training and pattern of examination including licentiate examination of the relevant foreign country, as it deems necessary, to facilitate global mobility and employability of registered professional.