This element represents royalty income recognized in other income during the period related to the sale of a business.

No definition available.

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
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- Definition

The percentage of net sales of certain products in certain territories payable as a distribution fee pursuant to the collaboration agreement to other collaboration partners.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Expense recognized in cost of products sold as a distribution fee pursuant to the collaboration agreement during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Balance Type:	debit
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- Definition

This item represents the non-cash charge relating to the divestiture of a business.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
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- Definition

This element represents payments to or (from) alliance partners for the costs of product supply during the period, which are included in cost of products sold.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Balance Type:	debit
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- Definition

The percentage share of pre-tax profit/loss received from the net sales of a collaboration partner to be shared further equally with another collaboration partner.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the royalty rate on net sales of certain products during the period related to the sale of a business.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	bmy_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents the upper limit of a sales threshold for tiered royalties on certain products payable to the Company as consideration for the sale of a business.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Balance Type:	credit
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- Definition

This element represents the lower limit of a sales threshold for tiered royalties on certain products payable to the Company as consideration for the sale of a business.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

The aggregate expense charged against earnings to allocate the cost of intangible assets (nonphysical assets not used in production) in a systematic and rational manner to the periods expected to benefit from such assets. As a noncash expense, this element is added back to net income when calculating cash provided by or used in operations using the indirect method.

+ References

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Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount before tax of gain (loss) recognized on the sale or disposal of a disposal group. Excludes discontinued operations.

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Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Sum of the carrying amounts of all intangible assets, excluding goodwill, as of the balance sheet date, net of accumulated amortization and impairment charges.

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- Definition

Revenues from the sale of other goods or rendering of other services, not elsewhere specified in the taxonomy; net of (reduced by) sales adjustments, returns, allowances, and discounts.

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Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Aggregate revenue during the period from the sale of goods in the normal course of business, after deducting returns, allowances and discounts.

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- Definition

Total revenue from sale of goods and services rendered during the reporting period, in the normal course of business, reduced by sales returns and allowances, and sales discounts.

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ALLIANCES (Lilly) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
ALLIANCES (Lilly) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Alliances Statement [Line Items]
Net product sales									$ 14,045	$ 11,660	$ 12,304
Alliance revenues									2,515	4,219	4,081
Total Revenues	$ 4,287	$ 4,069	$ 4,163	$ 4,041	$ 4,258	$ 3,921	$ 3,889	$ 3,811	16,560	15,879	16,385
Cost of products sold - Amortization of intangible asset									183	286	858
Other intangible assets- Non-refundable upfront, milestone and other licensing payments	$ 1,419				1,753				1,419	1,753
Erbitux [Member]
Alliances Statement [Line Items]
Total Revenues									501	723	696
Lilly [Member]
Alliances Statement [Line Items]
Net product sales									492	691	696
Alliance revenues									9	32
Total Revenues									501	723	696
Cost of products sold - Distribution fees and royalties									204	287	289
Cost of products sold - Amortization of intangible asset									11	37	37
Cost of products sold - Cost of product supply									46	69	65
Royalties									(70)		$ (30)
Loss on sale of business									$ 171
Other intangible assets- Non-refundable upfront, milestone and other licensing payments					$ 137					$ 137
Lilly [Member] \| Erbitux [Member] \| North America [Member]
Alliances Statement [Line Items]
Distribution fee, percentage of net sales	39.00%								39.00%
Divestiture non-cash charge									$ 171
Royalty rate sales threshold - Minimum	$ 165								165			$ 480	$ 650	$ 650
Royalty rate sales threshold - Maximum	$ 165								$ 165			$ 480	$ 650	$ 650
Lilly and Merck KGaA [Member] \| Erbitux [Member] \| Japan [Member]
Alliances Statement [Line Items]
Percentage share of pre-tax profit/loss received from the net sales of a collaboration partner to be shared further equally with another collaboration partner.	50.00%								50.00%
Maximum [Member] \| Lilly [Member] \| Erbitux [Member] \| North America [Member]
Alliances Statement [Line Items]
Royalty rate on net sales									38.00%
Minimum [Member] \| Lilly [Member] \| Erbitux [Member] \| North America [Member]
Alliances Statement [Line Items]
Royalty rate on net sales									20.00%