DIVESTITURES (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Divestiture proceeds	$ 1,317	$ 697	$ 3,565
Divestiture gain	(564)	(194)	(564)
Royalties	(618)	(293)	(192)
Assets held-for-sale		134
Investigational HIV business [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Divestiture proceeds	387
Divestiture gain	(272)
Transition fees	105
Upfront payment received	350
Total contingent development and regulatory milestone payments	1,100
Total contingent sales based milestones	4,300
Over the counter products - Reckitt [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Divestiture proceeds	317
Divestiture gain	(277)
Diabetes business [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Divestiture proceeds	333	374	3,495
Divestiture gain		(82)	(536)
Royalties	(361)	(215)	(192)
Erbitux [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Divestiture proceeds	252	9
Divestiture gain		171
Royalties	(246)	(70)
Recothrom [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Divestiture proceeds		132
Divestiture gain		(59)
Mature brands - Valeant [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Divestiture proceeds		61
Divestiture gain		(88)
Ixempra [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Divestiture proceeds	13	113
Divestiture gain		(88)
Royalties	(11)	(8)
Other divestitures [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Divestiture proceeds	15	8	70
Divestiture gain	$ (15)	$ (48)	$ (28)