ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract]
Balance at the beginning of the period	$ (915.9)	$ (132.8)	$ (119.4)
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(642.9)	(716.2)	(50.8)
Net unrealized holding gain on available-for-sale equity securities, net of tax	0.0	1.8	3.6
Reclassification to net income (loss)		(1.8)	(4.0)
Unrealized gain on equity method investment, net of tax	0.0	51.3	0.0
Reclassification to net income (loss)	0.0	(51.3)	0.0
Pension adjustment	17.2	(66.9)	37.8
Balance at the end of the period	(1,541.6)	(915.9)	(132.8)
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract]
Balance at the beginning of the period	(886.5)	(170.3)	(119.5)
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(642.9)	(716.2)	(50.8)
Balance at the end of the period	(1,529.4)	(886.5)	(170.3)
Net Unrealized Holding Gain (Loss) on Securities \| Auction rate securities
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract]
Balance at the beginning of the period	0.0	0.0	0.0
Unrealized gain on equity method investment, net of tax		51.3
Reclassification to net income (loss)		(51.3)
Balance at the end of the period	0.0	0.0	0.0
Net Unrealized Holding Gain (Loss) on Securities \| Available-for-sale equity securities
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract]
Balance at the beginning of the period	0.0	0.0	0.4
Net unrealized holding gain on available-for-sale equity securities, net of tax		1.8	3.6
Reclassification to net income (loss)		(1.8)	(4.0)
Balance at the end of the period	0.0	0.0	0.0
Net Unrealized Holding Gain (Loss) on Securities \| Available-for-sale debt securities
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract]
Balance at the beginning of the period	0.0	0.0	0.0
Balance at the end of the period	0.0	0.0	0.0
Pension Adjustment
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract]
Balance at the beginning of the period	(29.4)	37.5	(0.3)
Pension adjustment	17.2	(66.9)	37.8
Balance at the end of the period	$ (12.2)	$ (29.4)	$ 37.5

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_AOCIIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterestAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Accumulated change in equity from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources, net of tax effect, at period end. Excludes Net Income (Loss), and accumulated changes in equity from transactions resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners. Includes foreign currency translation items, certain pension adjustments, unrealized gains and losses on certain investments in debt and equity securities, other than temporary impairment (OTTI) losses related to factors other than credit losses on available-for-sale and held-to-maturity debt securities that an entity does not intend to sell and it is not more likely than not that the entity will be required to sell before recovery of the amortized cost basis, as well as changes in the fair value of derivatives related to the effective portion of a designated cash flow hedge.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 11
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36458714&loc=d3e637-108580

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 14
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36458714&loc=d3e681-108580

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 14A
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36458714&loc=SL7669686-108580

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 31
-Article 5

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 04
-Article 3

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount after tax and reclassification adjustments of gain (loss) on foreign currency translation adjustments, foreign currency transactions designated and effective as economic hedges of a net investment in a foreign entity and intra-entity foreign currency transactions that are of a long-term-investment nature.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 830
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 20
-Subparagraph (b,c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6915805&loc=d3e32211-110900

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 10A
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36458714&loc=SL7669646-108580

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount after tax and reclassification adjustments, of (increase) decrease in accumulated other comprehensive (income) loss related to pension and other postretirement defined benefit plans.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 10A
-Subparagraph (i-k)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36458714&loc=SL7669646-108580

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansAdjustmentNetOfTax
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount after tax of reclassification adjustment from accumulated other comprehensive income for unrealized gain (loss) realized upon the sale of available-for-sale securities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 9
-Subparagraph (d)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27357-111563

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 11
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36458714&loc=d3e637-108580

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 15
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36458714&loc=d3e689-108580

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAdjustmentFromAOCIForSaleOfSecuritiesNetOfTax
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Reclassification the adjustment for unrealized gains or losses on auction rate securities.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vrx_OtherComprehensiveIncomeReclassificationAdjustmentForAuctionRateSecuritiesNetOfTax
Namespace Prefix:	vrx_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Holding Gain (Loss) On Auction Rate Securities Arising During Period, Net Of Tax

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vrx_OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnAuctionRateSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax
Namespace Prefix:	vrx_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Appreciation or loss in value (before reclassification adjustment) of the total of unsold Equity securities during the period being reported on, net of tax.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vrx_OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnEquitySecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax
Namespace Prefix:	vrx_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis=us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis=us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis=us-gaap_AuctionRateSecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis=us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis=us-gaap_DebtSecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis=us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: