Taxes on Income	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2014
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Taxes on Income	Taxes on Income The effective income tax rates of 43.5% and 24.6% for the third quarter of 2014 and 2013, respectively, and 15.8% and 14.3% for the first nine months of 2014 and 2013, respectively, reflect the impacts of acquisition-related costs and restructuring costs, partially offset by the beneficial impact of foreign earnings. The effective income tax rates for the third quarter and first nine months of 2014 include the unfavorable impact of an additional year of expense for the non-tax deductible health care reform fee that the Company recorded in accordance with final regulations issued in the third quarter by the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”). In addition, the effective income tax rate for the first nine months of 2014 includes a net tax benefit of $517 million recorded in connection with AstraZeneca’s option exercise (see Note 7) and a benefit of approximately $300 million associated with a capital loss generated in the first quarter related to the sale of Sirna (see Note 3). The effective income tax rates for the third quarter and first nine months of 2013 also reflect a net benefit of $165 million from the settlements of certain federal income tax issues as discussed below. Additionally, the effective income tax rate for the first nine months of 2013 reflects net benefits from reductions in tax reserves upon expiration of applicable statute of limitations, the favorable impact of tax legislation enacted in the first quarter of 2013 that extended the R&D tax credit for both 2012 and 2013, as well as a benefit of approximately $160 million associated with the resolution of a previously disclosed federal income tax issue as discussed below. In the third quarter of 2013, the IRS finalized its examination of Schering-Plough’s 2007-2009 tax years. The Company’s unrecognized tax benefits for the years under examination exceeded the adjustments related to this examination period and therefore the Company recorded a net $165 million tax provision benefit for the third quarter and first nine months of 2013. In 2010, the IRS finalized its examination of Schering-Plough’s 2003-2006 tax years. In this audit cycle, the Company reached an agreement with the IRS on an adjustment to income related to intercompany pricing matters. This income adjustment mostly reduced net operating loss carryforwards and other tax credit carryforwards. The Company’s reserves for uncertain tax positions were adequate to cover all adjustments related to this examination period. Additionally, as previously disclosed, the Company was seeking resolution of one issue raised during this examination through the IRS administrative appeals process. In the first quarter of 2013, the Company recorded an out-of-period net tax benefit of $160 million related to this issue, which was settled in the fourth quarter of 2012, with final resolution relating to interest owed being reached in the first quarter of 2013. The Company’s unrecognized tax benefits related to this issue exceeded the settlement amount. Management concluded that the exclusion of this benefit was not material to prior period financial statements.

Taxes on Income

The effective income tax rates of 43.5% and 24.6% for the third quarter of 2014 and 2013, respectively, and 15.8% and 14.3% for the first nine months of 2014 and 2013, respectively, reflect the impacts of acquisition-related costs and restructuring costs, partially offset by the beneficial impact of foreign earnings. The effective income tax rates for the third quarter and first nine months of 2014 include the unfavorable impact of an additional year of expense for the non-tax deductible health care reform fee that the Company recorded in accordance with final regulations issued in the third quarter by the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”). In addition, the effective income tax rate for the first nine months of 2014 includes a net tax benefit of $517 million recorded in connection with AstraZeneca’s option exercise (see Note 7) and a benefit of approximately $300 million associated with a capital loss generated in the first quarter related to the sale of Sirna (see Note 3). The effective income tax rates for the third quarter and first nine months of 2013 also reflect a net benefit of $165 million from the settlements of certain federal income tax issues as discussed below. Additionally, the effective income tax rate for the first nine months of 2013 reflects net benefits from reductions in tax reserves upon expiration of applicable statute of limitations, the favorable impact of tax legislation enacted in the first quarter of 2013 that extended the R&D tax credit for both 2012 and 2013, as well as a benefit of approximately $160 million associated with the resolution of a previously disclosed federal income tax issue as discussed below.

In the third quarter of 2013, the IRS finalized its examination of Schering-Plough’s 2007-2009 tax years. The Company’s unrecognized tax benefits for the years under examination exceeded the adjustments related to this examination period and therefore the Company recorded a net $165 million tax provision benefit for the third quarter and first nine months of 2013.

In 2010, the IRS finalized its examination of Schering-Plough’s 2003-2006 tax years. In this audit cycle, the Company reached an agreement with the IRS on an adjustment to income related to intercompany pricing matters. This income adjustment mostly reduced net operating loss carryforwards and other tax credit carryforwards. The Company’s reserves for uncertain tax positions were adequate to cover all adjustments related to this examination period. Additionally, as previously disclosed, the Company was seeking resolution of one issue raised during this examination through the IRS administrative appeals process. In the first quarter of 2013, the Company recorded an out-of-period net tax benefit of $160 million related to this issue, which was settled in the fourth quarter of 2012, with final resolution relating to interest owed being reached in the first quarter of 2013. The Company’s unrecognized tax benefits related to this issue exceeded the settlement amount. Management concluded that the exclusion of this benefit was not material to prior period financial statements.