PENSION AND POSTRETIREMENT BENEFIT PLANS (Net Periodic Benefit Cost) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended									1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2009	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Dec. 31, 2011 Pension Benefits [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Pension Benefits [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Pension Benefits [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Other Benefits [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Other Benefits [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Other Benefits [Member]	Jan. 31, 2012 United States Pension Plans [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 United States Pension Plans [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 United States Pension Plans [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 United States Pension Plans [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 International Pension Plans [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 International Pension Plans [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 International Pension Plans [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Bristol Myers Squibb Retirement Income Plan [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Mead Johnson Plan Transfers [Member]
Pension, Postretirement And Postemployment Liabilities Statement [Line Items]
Percentage of plan assets and obligations attributable to the principal defined benefit pension plan		70.00%
Service cost - benefits earned during the year					$ 43	$ 44	$ 178	$ 8	$ 6	$ 6
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation					337	347	381	26	30	37
Expected return on plan assets					(464)	(453)	(453)	(26)	(24)	(19)
Amortization of prior service cost/(benefit)					(1)		4	(3)	(3)	(3)
Amortization of net actuarial loss					112	95	94	7	10	10
Curtailments	(25)				(3)	5	24	(1)
Settlements					15	22	29
Special termination benefits						1
Net periodic benefit cost					39	61	257	11	19	31
Continuing operations					39	61	242	11	19	28
Discontinued operations							15			3
Net actuarial loss and prior service cost expected to be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive income into net prierodic benefit cost during 2012		140
The pre-tax reduction to other comprehensive income attributable to a pension plan curtailment																		455
The after-tax reduction to other comprehensive income attributable to a pension plan curtailment																		295
Discount rate utilized prior to the curtailment																		7.00%
Discount rate utilized after the curtailment																		7.50%
Curtailment charge recognized in other expense for the remaining amount of unrecognized prior service cost.	25				3	(5)	(24)	1
Expected weighted-average remaining lives of plan participants, which is the period over which actuarial gain/loss is amortized		32
The pre-tax reduction to other comprehensive income attributable to the transfer of certain plan assets and related obligations after the initial public offering of a subsidiary																			170
The after-tax reduction to other comprehensive income attributable to the transfer of certain plan assets and related obligations after the initial public offering of a subsidiary																			110
Discount rate utilized prior to the transfer of certain plan assets and obligations following the initial public offering of a subsidiary																			6.50%
Discount rate utilized after the transfer of certain plan assets and obligations following the initial public offering of a subsidiary																			7.00%
Expected contributions to pension plans												340
Contributions to pension plan											300	343	341	656	88	90	133		27
Expected pension plan contributions range, minimum															75
Expected pension plan contributions range, maximum															90
Defined contribution plan expense		181	188	50
Postemployment benefits liability		92	92
Postemployment benefit expense		18	18	21
Termination indemnity plan obligations		$ 25	$ 25