LEGAL PROCEEDINGS AND CONTINGENCIES (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended																						12 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2012 Baraclude [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Baraclude [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Baraclude [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Baraclude [Member] United States [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 AWP Litigation [Member]	Sep. 30, 2010 AWP Litigation [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Qui Tam Litigation [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Plavix Product Liability Litiagtion [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Environmental Proceedings New Brunswick [Member]	Oct. 30, 2011 Environmental Proceedings New Brunswick [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Hormone Replacement Therapy Product Liability [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Cercla Matters [Member]	Dec. 31, 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]	Dec. 31, 2012 Environmental Proceedings North Brunswick [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Byetta And Bydureon Product Liability [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 BMS-986094 Product Liability [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Plavix General Commercial Litigation [Member]
Legal Proceedings And Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of patent infringement lawsuits																									2
Damages sought by third-party																																		$ 60
Number of patents owned																									6		15		4
Number of patents challenged																									2	8	2	1,000,000		4
Number of lawsuits																2				250	100	35										120	5
Loss contingency, Estimate of possible loss																	28						72
Number of current plaintiffs																		3	2,000					2,700								575
Number of plaintiffs settled in principle																						400										300	4
Litigation Settlement Gross																															4
Number of patients in trial																																	300
Interest percentage on damages sought by third party																																		1.00%
Number of interim payments already transmitted																															2
Net Sales	$ 4,191	$ 3,736	$ 4,443	$ 5,251	$ 5,454	$ 5,345	$ 5,434	$ 5,011	$ 17,621	$ 21,244	$ 19,484	$ 1,388	$ 1,196	$ 931	$ 241
The minimum number of months of profits plaintiff is seeking in damages																																		8
The maximum number of months of profits plaintiff is seeking in damages																																		11.5