LEGAL PROCEEDINGS (Details) RUB in Millions, $ in Millions											1 Months Ended			3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 30, 2015 case	Oct. 29, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 28, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 02, 2015 case	Apr. 06, 2015 case	Nov. 07, 2014 case	Dec. 04, 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 04, 2013 RUB	May. 24, 2013 USD ($)	Feb. 01, 2013 USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2016 deposition	Mar. 12, 2015 case	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 case
Legal proceedings and other matters
Number of depositions | deposition												2
Salix
Legal proceedings and other matters
Number of suits filed | case					2	2							6
Number of putative class action cases filed | case						3
ISTA
Legal proceedings and other matters
Settlement, amount paid | $									$ 34
Litigation settlement, required compliance and ethics period (in years)									3 years
Natur Produkt | AntiGrippin Trademark
Legal proceedings and other matters
Damages awarded to plaintiff | RUB								RUB 1,660
Natur Produkt | AntiGrippin Trademark | Other (Income) Expense
Legal proceedings and other matters
Recognized charge loss during period | $			$ 25				$ 50							$ 25
NEW JERSEY | Unfavorable Regulatory Action
Legal proceedings and other matters
Number of suits filed | case	4
CANADA
Legal proceedings and other matters
Number of suits filed | case															6
CANADA | Violation of Canadian Provincial Securities Legislation
Legal proceedings and other matters
Number of suits filed | case															5
Investigation by the State of Texas, State's Medicaid Program | Subsequent Event
Legal proceedings and other matters
Damages sought | $											$ 20
Synergetics Shareholder Class Action
Legal proceedings and other matters
Number of suits filed | case				4
Synergetics Shareholder Class Action | MISSOURI
Legal proceedings and other matters
Number of suits filed | case				3
R&O Pharmacy Complaint
Legal proceedings and other matters
Damages sought | $		$ 19
DOJ Subpoena, Salix
Legal proceedings and other matters
Settlement, amount paid | $										$ 54
DOJ Subpoena, Salix, Federal Portion
Legal proceedings and other matters
Settlement, amount paid | $										47
DOJ Subpoena, Salix, State Medicaid Fraud Control Portion
Legal proceedings and other matters
Settlement, amount paid | $										$ 8