LEGAL PROCEEDINGS AND CONTINGENCIES (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	1 Months Ended																	6 Months Ended
	Nov. 30, 2008 Plavix Intellectual Property Litigation [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Plavix Intellectual Property Litigation [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 AWP Litigation [Member]	Sep. 30, 2010 AWP Litigation [Member]	Mar. 31, 2011 Qui Tam Litigation [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Plavix Product Liability Litiagtion [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Environmental Proceedings New Brunswick [Member]	May 31, 2012 Environmental Proceedings New Brunswick [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Hormone Replacement Therapy Product Liability [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Cercla Matters [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 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]	Jun. 30, 2012 Environmental Proceedings North Brunswick [Member]
Legal Proceedings And Contingencies [Line Items]
Litigation Settlement Gross																		$ 4
Number of patent infringement lawsuits												2				4
Damages sought by third-party	60
Number of patents owned												6		15	1		4
Number of patents challenged												2	8	2
Number of lawsuits			4				250	100	36
Loss Contingency Estimate Of Possible Loss				$ 28						$ 70
Number of current plaintiffs						1,000					2,500
Number of plaintiffs settled									400
Number of sales representatives					3
Interest percentage on damages sought by third party		1.00%