SEGMENT INFORMATION - Disaggregation of Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 2,209	$ 2,136	$ 6,377	$ 6,259
Pharmaceuticals
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	1,072	1,055	3,057	3,050
Devices
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	421	394	1,257	1,207
OTC
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	371	352	1,063	1,046
Branded and Other Generics
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	316	307	914	870
Other revenues
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	29	28	86	86
Bausch Lomb/ International
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	1,175	1,147	3,501	3,459
Bausch Lomb/ International | Pharmaceuticals
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	217	222	670	667
Bausch Lomb/ International | Devices
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	375	365	1,127	1,117
Bausch Lomb/ International | OTC
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	371	352	1,063	1,046
Bausch Lomb/ International | Branded and Other Generics
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	197	192	582	576
Bausch Lomb/ International | Other revenues
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	15	16	59	53
Salix
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	551	460	1,505	1,323
Salix | Pharmaceuticals
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	551	460	1,505	1,323
Salix | Devices
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0	0	0
Salix | OTC
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0	0	0
Salix | Branded and Other Generics
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0	0	0
Salix | Other revenues
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0	0	0
Ortho Dermatologics
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	147	176	407	457
Ortho Dermatologics | Pharmaceuticals
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	97	140	265	346
Ortho Dermatologics | Devices
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	46	29	130	90
Ortho Dermatologics | OTC
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0	0	0
Ortho Dermatologics | Branded and Other Generics
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0	0	0
Ortho Dermatologics | Other revenues
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	4	7	12	21
Diversified Products
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	336	353	964	1,020
Diversified Products | Pharmaceuticals
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	207	233	617	714
Diversified Products | Devices
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0	0	0
Diversified Products | OTC
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0	0	0
Diversified Products | Branded and Other Generics
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	119	115	332	294
Diversified Products | Other revenues
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 10	$ 5	$ 15	$ 12