Other (Income)/Deductions - Net - Footnotes (Detail) - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions		1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended					9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2018	Apr. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018		Jul. 01, 2018	Apr. 01, 2018	Oct. 01, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018		Oct. 01, 2017
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Gain on sale of property											$ 52
Net unrealized gains related to shares held	[1]			$ 40					$ 370
Certain asset impairments	[2]			(1)				$ 130	40		143
Pre-tax gain associated with the formation of Cerevel	[4]			94	[3]			45	460	[3]	111
Income from resolution of contract disagreement								$ 62			62
Laboratorio Teuto Brasilero [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss on disposal of equity method investment											$ 30
Equity method investment, ownership percentage								40.00%			40.00%
Allogene [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Non-cash pre-tax gain from the difference between the fair value of equity investment received and book value of assets transferred						$ 50			50
Investment ownership percentage			25.00%
Licensing Arrangement [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Proceeds from licensing arrangement									40
Milestone payment received								$ 50	128		$ 81
ViiV Healthcare Limited [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Change in fair value of contingent consideration				122					257
Operating Segments [Member] | IH [Member] | ViiV Healthcare Limited [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Dividend income				91				$ 54	226		$ 211
ICU Medical [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Net unrealized gains related to shares held				24					229
Shire [Member] | Licensing Arrangement [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Proceeds from licensing arrangement				35			$ 75		110
Merck [Member] | Collaborative Arrangement [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Milestone payment received									40
Bain Capital [Member] | Cerevel [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Pre-tax gain associated with the formation of Cerevel		$ 343		343
Disposed of by Sale [Member] | Phase 2b Ready AMPA Receptor Potentiator For CIAS [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Proceeds from sale of Phase 2b Ready AMPA Receptor Potentiator for CIAS to Biogen		$ 75	$ 75	75					75
Laboratorio Teuto Brasilero [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Ownership percentage								60.00%			60.00%
Distribution Rights [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Gain related to sales of intangible assets				$ 45				$ 15	45		$ 43
Developed Technology Rights [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Certain asset impairments	[5]								31
Developed Technology Rights [Member] | Generic Sterile Injectable Product [Member] | Operating Segments [Member] | EH [Member] | Hospira [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Intangible asset impairment charge								127			127
Developed Technology Rights [Member] | EU [Member] | Mylotarg [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Non-cash gain from buyout transaction						$ 17			17
Pending Litigation [Member] | Celebrex [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Litigation charge								94			94
Patent Matter [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Litigation charge								$ 79			$ 79
Long-term Investments [Member] | ICU Medical [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Shares currently held (in shares)				2.5
Financial Assets and Liabilities [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Net unrealized gains related to shares held				$ 8					$ 344

[1] The third quarter of 2018 includes $8 million of unrealized net gains in Other (income)/deductions––net reflecting the adoption of a new accounting standard in the first quarter of 2018 and $32 million of unrealized gains on other equity securities. The first nine months of 2018 includes $344 million of unrealized net gains in Other (income)/deductions––net reflecting the adoption of a new accounting standard in the first quarter of 2018 and $26 million of unrealized gains on other equity securities. For additional information, see Note 1B and Note 4.

[2] In the first nine months of 2018, primarily includes a $31 million intangible asset impairment charge recorded in the second quarter of 2018 related to an IH finite-lived developed technology right, acquired in connection with our acquisition of Anacor, for the treatment for toenail fungus marketed in the U.S. market only. The impairment charge recorded in the second quarter of 2018 related to IH reflects, among other things, updated commercial forecasts. In the third quarter and first nine months of 2017, primarily includes an intangible asset impairment charge of $127 million related to developed technology rights, acquired in connection with our acquisition of Hospira, for a generic sterile injectable product for the treatment of edema associated with certain conditions. The intangible asset impairment charge for the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 is associated with EH and reflects, among other things, updated commercial forecasts and an increased competitive environment.

[3] The net gains on investments in equity securities are reported in Other (income)/deductions––net and, for the third quarter and first nine months of 2018, include unrealized net gains on equity securities reflecting the adoption of a new accounting standard in the first quarter of 2018. For additional information, see Note 4.

[4] The net gains on investments in equity securities for the third quarter of 2018 include unrealized net gains on equity securities of $8 million and, for the first nine months of 2018, include unrealized net gains on equity securities of $344 million, reflecting the adoption of a new accounting standard in the first quarter of 2018. We continue to hold 2.5 million shares of ICU Medical common stock and we recognized unrealized gains of $24 million in the third quarter of 2018 and unrealized gains of $229 million in the first nine months of 2018 related to these remaining shares. Prior to the adoption of a new accounting standard in the first quarter of 2018, net unrealized gains and losses on virtually all equity securities with readily determinable fair values were reported in Accumulated other comprehensive income. For additional information, see Note 1B, Note 2B and Note 7B.

[5] Reflects an intangible asset written down to fair value in the first nine months of 2018. Fair value was determined using the income approach, specifically the multi-period excess earnings method, also known as the discounted cash flow method. We started with a forecast of all the expected net cash flows associated with the asset and then applied an asset-specific discount rate to arrive at a net present value amount. Some of the more significant estimates and assumptions inherent in this approach include: the amount and timing of the projected net cash flows, which includes the expected impact of competitive, legal and/or regulatory forces on the product; the discount rate, which seeks to reflect the various risks inherent in the projected cash flows; and the tax rate, which seeks to incorporate the geographic diversity of the projected cash flows.