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INTANGIBLE ASSETS AND GOODWILL - Changes in Carrying Amount of Goodwill (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Oct. 01, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2018
Change in the carrying amount of goodwill
Balance at the beginning of the period				$ 13,142	$ 15,593	$ 15,593
Impairments		$ 0	$ 0	0	(2,213)
Goodwill reclassified to assets held for sale				(18)		(2)
Acquisition of certain assets of Synergy				3
Foreign exchange and other				(75)		(127)
Balance at the end of the period		13,052		13,052		13,142
Ortho Dermatologics
Change in the carrying amount of goodwill
Impairments						(2,213)
Dentistry Reporting Unit
Change in the carrying amount of goodwill
Impairments	$ (109)					(109)
Bausch Lomb/ International
Change in the carrying amount of goodwill
Balance at the beginning of the period				5,805	6,016	6,016
Realignment of Global Solta reporting unit goodwill						(82)
Goodwill reclassified to assets held for sale				(18)		(2)
Foreign exchange and other				(75)		(127)
Balance at the end of the period		5,712		5,712		5,805
Branded Rx
Change in the carrying amount of goodwill
Balance at the beginning of the period					6,631	6,631
Realignment of Global Solta reporting unit goodwill						115
Realignment of segment goodwill						(4,533)
Branded Rx \| Ortho Dermatologics
Change in the carrying amount of goodwill
Impairments						(2,213)
U.S. Diversified Products
Change in the carrying amount of goodwill
Balance at the beginning of the period					$ 2,946	2,946
Realignment of Global Solta reporting unit goodwill						(33)
Realignment of segment goodwill						(2,913)
Salix
Change in the carrying amount of goodwill
Balance at the beginning of the period				3,156
Realignment of segment goodwill						3,156
Acquisition of certain assets of Synergy				3
Balance at the end of the period		3,159		3,159		3,156
Ortho Dermatologics
Change in the carrying amount of goodwill
Balance at the beginning of the period				1,267
Realignment of segment goodwill						1,267
Balance at the end of the period		1,267		1,267		1,267
Diversified Products
Change in the carrying amount of goodwill
Balance at the beginning of the period				2,914
Realignment of segment goodwill						3,023
Balance at the end of the period		$ 2,914		$ 2,914		2,914
Diversified Products \| Dentistry Reporting Unit
Change in the carrying amount of goodwill
Impairments						$ (109)