ALLIANCES AND COLLABORATIONS (Sanofi) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Alliances and Collaborations Statement [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 5,454	$ 5,345	$ 5,434	$ 5,011	$ 5,111	$ 4,798	$ 4,768	$ 4,807	$ 21,244	$ 19,484	$ 18,808
Distributions									(2,354)	(2,108)	(1,795)
Equity in net income of affiliates									(281)	(313)	(550)
Other (income)/expense									(169)	126	(381)
Deferred income	1,203				1,297				1,203	1,297
AVAPRO AVALIDE [Member]
Alliances and Collaborations Statement [Line Items]
Net sales									952	1,176	1,283
Sanofi [Member] | AVAPRO, AVALIDE, and PLAVIX [Member] | Supply Activities And Development And Opt Out Royalties [Member]
Alliances and Collaborations Statement [Line Items]
Other (income)/expense									23	(3)	(41)
Sanofi [Member] | AVALIDE [Member] | AVALIDE supply disruption [Member]
Alliances and Collaborations Statement [Line Items]
Other (income)/expense									80
Sanofi [Member] | Territory Covering Americas and Australia [Member] | AVAPRO, AVALIDE, and PLAVIX [Member]
Alliances and Collaborations Statement [Line Items]
Controlling interest ownership percentage	50.10%								50.10%
Noncontrolling interest ownership percentage	49.90%								49.90%
Net sales									7,761	7,464	6,912
Royalty expense									1,583	1,527	1,404
Noncontrolling interest - pre-tax									2,323	2,074	1,717
Distributions									(2,335)	(2,093)	(1,717)
Sanofi [Member] | Europe Comarketing Countries and Other [Member] | AVAPRO, AVALIDE, and PLAVIX [Member]
Alliances and Collaborations Statement [Line Items]
Net sales									279	378	517
Sanofi [Member] | Territory Covering Europe and Asia [Member] | AVAPRO, AVALIDE, and PLAVIX [Member]
Alliances and Collaborations Statement [Line Items]
Controlling interest ownership percentage	50.10%								50.10%
Equity method investment ownership percentage	49.90%								49.90%
Equity in net income of affiliates									(298)	(325)	(558)
Profit distributions to the Company									283	313	554
Investment in affiliates	37				22				37	22
Net sales									1,469	1,879	2,984
Cost of products sold									811	1,047	1,510
Gross profit									658	832	1,474
Marketing, selling and administrative									75	129	219
Advertising and product promotion									15	29	68
Research and development									5	16	61
Other (income)/expense									1	(1)
Net income									562	659	1,126
Current assets	584				751				584	751	1,305
Current liabilities	584				751				584	751	1,305
Sanofi [Member] | Territory Covering Europe and Asia [Member] | AVAPRO, AVALIDE, and PLAVIX [Member] | Discovery Royalties [Member]
Alliances and Collaborations Statement [Line Items]
Cost of products sold									184	307	446
Sanofi [Member] | Territory Covering Europe and Asia [Member] | AVAPRO, AVALIDE, and PLAVIX [Member] | Recivables payables, net cash distributions and intercompany balances [Member]
Alliances and Collaborations Statement [Line Items]
Current assets and current liabilities	400				567				400	567	1,000
Sanofi [Member] | United States [Member] | AVAPRO AVALIDE [Member] | License Fee [Member]
Alliances and Collaborations Statement [Line Items]
Payment to the Company for an interest in a license	350								350
Amortization income - upfront, milestone and other licensing payments									(31)	(31)	(32)
Deferred income	$ 29				$ 60				$ 29	$ 60