INCOME TAXES (Effective Tax Rate Reconciliation) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract]
U.S. Earnings/(Loss) before income taxes	$ 3,100	$ (1,329)	$ (349)
Non-U.S. Earnings before income taxes	2,815	3,406	2,730
Earnings Before Income Taxes	5,915	2,077	2,381
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Amount [Abstract]
U.S. statutory rate, Amount	2,070	727	833
Foreign tax effect of certain operations in Ireland, Puerto Rico and Switzerland	(442)	(535)	(509)
U.S. tax effect of capital losses, amount			(361)
U.S. Federal valuation allowance release	(29)	(84)
U.S. Federal, state and foreign contingent tax matters, Amount	87	56	228
U.S. Federal research based credits, amount	(144)	(132)	(131)
Non-tax deductible goodwill related to diabetes divestiture, Amount	34	25	210
Non-tax deductible U.S. Branded Prescription Drug fee, Amount	52	44	84
Non-tax deductible research and development charge, Amount	100	369	52
Puerto Rico excise tax, amount	(131)	(55)	(28)
Domestic manufacturing deduction, amount	(122)	(17)
State and local taxes (net of valuation allowance), amount	23	16	20
Foreign and other, Amount	(90)	32	(46)
Provision for Income Taxes	1,408	$ 446	352
Undistributed Earnings of Foreign Subsidiaries	$ 25,700
Transfer pricing reserves			$ 123
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Percent [Abstract]
U.S. statutory income tax rate	35.00%	35.00%	35.00%
Foreign tax effect of certain operations in Ireland, Puerto Rico and Switzerland, Rate	(7.50%)	(25.80%)	(21.40%)
U.S. tax effect of capital losses, Rate			(15.20%)
Valuation allowance release percent	(0.50%)	(4.00%)
U.S. Federal, state and foreign contingent tax matters, Rate	1.50%	2.70%	9.60%
U.S. Federal research based credits, Rate	(2.40%)	(6.40%)	(5.40%)
Non-tax deductible goodwill related to diabetes divestiture, Rate	0.60%	1.20%	8.80%
Non-tax deductible U.S. Branded Prescription Drug Fee, Rate	0.90%	2.10%	3.50%
Non-tax deductible research and development charge, Rate	1.70%	17.80%	2.20%
Puerto Rico excise tax, Rate	(2.20%)	(2.70%)	(1.20%)
Domestic manufacturing deduction, Percent	(2.10%)	(0.80%)
State and local taxes (net of valuation allowance), Rate	0.40%	0.80%	0.80%
Foreign and other, Rate	(1.60%)	1.60%	(1.90%)
Effective income tax/(benefit) rate	23.80%	21.50%	14.80%