LEGAL PROCEEDINGS AND CONTINGENCIES (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended				1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended															12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Dec. 31, 2010 Insurance Reimbursement [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Securities Litigation Settlement [Member]	Nov. 30, 2008 Plavix Intellectual Property Litigation [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Plavix Intellectual Property Litigation [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 AWP Litigation [Member]	Mar. 31, 2011 Qui Tam Litigation [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Plavix Product Liability Litiagtion [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Environmental Proceedings New Brunswick [Member]	Oct. 30, 2011 Environmental Proceedings New Brunswick [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Hormone Replacement Therapy Product Liability [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Cercla Matters [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Reglan Product Liability [Member]	Mar. 31, 2010 Atripla Intellectual Property Litigation [Member]	Jan. 31, 2010 Atripla Intellectual Property Litigation [Member]	Apr. 30, 2009 Atripla Intellectual Property Litigation [Member]	Aug. 31, 2010 Baraclude Intellectual Property Litigation [Member]	Nov. 30, 2010 Sprycel Intellectual Property Litigation [Member]	Sep. 30, 2010 Sprycel Intellectual Property Litigation [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Environmental Proceedings North Brunswick [Member]
Legal Proceedings And Contingencies [Line Items]
Litigation expense, net	$ (19)	$ 132	$ 41	$ 125
Litigation Settlement Gross						442															4
Number of patent infringement lawsuits						5									2
Damages sought by third-party					60
Number of patents owned															6		15	1		4
Number of patents challenged															2	8	2		4
Number of lawsuits							4			250	50	39
Loss Contingency Estimate Of Possible Loss							28						69
Number of current plaintiffs									250					2,500
Number of plaintiffs settled												400
Number of sales representatives								3
Proceeds from legal settlements						$ 172