SEGMENT INFORMATION - Disaggregation of Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 2,138	$ 2,209	$ 5,814	$ 6,377
Pharmaceuticals
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	976	1,072	2,696	3,057
Devices
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	432	421	1,086	1,257
OTC
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	374	371	1,043	1,063
Branded and Other Generics
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	329	316	909	914
Other revenues
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	27	29	80	86
Bausch + Lomb/ International
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	1,169	1,175	3,166	3,501
Bausch + Lomb/ International | Pharmaceuticals
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	200	217	552	670
Bausch + Lomb/ International | Devices
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	360	375	921	1,127
Bausch + Lomb/ International | OTC
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	374	371	1,043	1,063
Bausch + Lomb/ International | Branded and Other Generics
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	219	197	597	582
Bausch + Lomb/ International | Other revenues
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	16	15	53	59
Salix
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	496	551	1,377	1,505
Salix | Pharmaceuticals
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	494	551	1,374	1,505
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	2	0	3	0
Ortho Dermatologics
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	144	147	393	407
Ortho Dermatologics | Pharmaceuticals
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	65	97	213	265
Ortho Dermatologics | Devices
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	72	46	165	130
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	7	4	15	12
Diversified Products
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	329	336	878	964
Diversified Products | Pharmaceuticals
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	217	207	557	617
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	110	119	312	332
Diversified Products | Other revenues
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 2	$ 10	$ 9	$ 15