SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018	Jan. 01, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Benefit from income taxes	$ (74)	$ (115)
Net (loss) income	(48)	(2,579)
Net loss attributable to Bausch Health Companies Inc.	52	$ 2,581
Earnings per share, basic and diluted (in dollars per share)		$ (7.36)
Deferred income taxes	(116)	$ (152)
Right-of-use asset	274		$ 302
Lease liability	293		302
Other non-current liabilities adjustment, upon adoption of ASU	(763)			$ (581)
Reduction, right-of-use asset, upon adoption of ASU	(274)		(302)
Adjustment, Adoption ASU
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Right-of-use asset			(20)
Other non-current liabilities adjustment, upon adoption of ASU	20
Reduction, right-of-use asset, upon adoption of ASU			$ 20
Error In Forecasted Effective Tax Rate
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Benefit from income taxes		(112)
Net (loss) income		112
Net loss attributable to Bausch Health Companies Inc.		$ (112)
Earnings per share, basic and diluted (in dollars per share)		$ 0.32
Deferred income taxes	$ 112
Error In Forecasted Effective Tax Rate | Adjustment, Adoption ASU
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Benefit from income taxes		$ (112)
Net (loss) income		112
Net loss attributable to Bausch Health Companies Inc.		$ (112)
Earnings per share, basic and diluted (in dollars per share)		$ 0.32