ALLIANCES AND COLLABORATIONS (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2014
Alliances and Collaborations Statement [Line Items]
Net product sales	$ 3,572	$ 2,770	$ 6,631	$ 5,577
Alliance and other revenues	591	1,119	1,573	2,123
Total revenues	4,163	3,889	8,204	7,700
Receivables - from alliance partners	825		825						$ 888
Deferred income from alliances	1,606		1,606						1,937
Gain on sale of business	8	(7)	162	252
Written Option Liabilities [Member]
Alliances and Collaborations Statement [Line Items]
Fair value of the written option	93		93						$ 198
Abilify [Member]
Alliances and Collaborations Statement [Line Items]
Alliance and other revenues	70	499	578	940
Total revenues	107	555	661	1,095
Eliquis [Member]
Alliances and Collaborations Statement [Line Items]
Total revenues	437	171	792	277
Erbitux [Member]
Alliances and Collaborations Statement [Line Items]
Total revenues	$ 169	186	$ 334	355
Otsuka [Member] | United States [Member] | Abilify [Member]
Alliances and Collaborations Statement [Line Items]
Percentage of net sales recognized from collaboration	50.00%		50.00%						33.00%
The Medicines Company [Member]
Alliances and Collaborations Statement [Line Items]
Proceeds from divestiture of businesses			$ 132
Gain on sale of business			59
The Medicines Company [Member] | Written Option Liabilities [Member]
Alliances and Collaborations Statement [Line Items]
Fair value of the written option	$ 35		35
Valeant [Member]
Alliances and Collaborations Statement [Line Items]
Proceeds from divestiture of businesses			61
Gain on sale of business			88
Valeant [Member] | Written Option Liabilities [Member]
Alliances and Collaborations Statement [Line Items]
Fair value of the written option	34		34
Reckitt Benckiser Group [Member]
Alliances and Collaborations Statement [Line Items]
Credit included in other income related to the decrease in the fair value of a written option			36
Reckitt Benckiser Group [Member] | Written Option Liabilities [Member]
Alliances and Collaborations Statement [Line Items]
Fair value of the written option	93		93
Alliance Partners [Member]
Alliances and Collaborations Statement [Line Items]
Net product sales	1,228	782	2,222	1,677
Alliance and other revenues	552	1,039	1,507	1,951
Total revenues	1,780	1,821	3,729	3,628
Payments to/(from) alliance partners - Cost of products sold	423	323	812	678
Payments to/(from) alliance partners - Marketing, selling and administrative	(13)	6	(1)	3
Payments to/(from) alliance partners - Advertising and product promotion	10	32	23	67
Payments to/(from) alliance partners - Research and development	66	(4)	188	(20)
Payments to/(from) alliance partners - Other (income)/expense	(148)	(158)	(449)	(553)
Noncontrolling interest, pre-tax	23	$ 7	28	$ 11
Receivables - from alliance partners	825		825						$ 888
Accounts payable - to alliance partners	959		959						1,479
Deferred income from alliances	$ 1,480		$ 1,480						$ 1,493
Lilly [Member] | United States [Member] | Erbitux [Member]
Alliances and Collaborations Statement [Line Items]
Collaboration distribution fee percentage	39.00%		39.00%
Royalty rate sales threshold - Minimum					$ 165	$ 480	$ 650	$ 650
Royalty rate sales threshold - Maximum					165	$ 480	$ 650	$ 650
Lilly and Merck KGaA [Member] | Japan [Member] | Erbitux [Member]
Alliances and Collaborations Statement [Line Items]
Percentage share of pretax profit from net sales of collaboration	50.00%		50.00%
Minimum [Member] | Lilly [Member] | United States [Member] | Erbitux [Member]
Alliances and Collaborations Statement [Line Items]
Divestiture non-cash charge					$ 150
Royalty rate on net sales					20.00%
Maximum [Member] | Lilly [Member] | United States [Member] | Erbitux [Member]
Alliances and Collaborations Statement [Line Items]
Divestiture non-cash charge					$ 200
Royalty rate on net sales					38.00%