SEGMENT INFORMATION - Disaggregation of Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2022	Mar. 31, 2021
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 1,918	$ 2,027
Pharmaceuticals
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	844	892
Devices
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	458	454
OTC
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	375	347
Branded and Other Generics
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	221	310
Other revenues
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	20	24
Bausch + Lomb
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	889	881
Bausch + Lomb | Pharmaceuticals
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	110	121
Bausch + Lomb | Devices
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	386	382
Bausch + Lomb | OTC
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	335	320
Bausch + Lomb | Branded and Other Generics
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	52	51
Bausch + Lomb | Other revenues
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	6	7
Salix
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	464	472
Salix | Pharmaceuticals
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	464	470
Salix | Devices
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0
Salix | OTC
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0
Salix | Branded and Other Generics
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0
Salix | Other revenues
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	0	2
International
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	244	306
International | Pharmaceuticals
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	65	59
International | Devices
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0
International | OTC
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	38	25
International | Branded and Other Generics
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	133	212
International | Other revenues
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	8	10
Solta Medical
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	72	72
Solta Medical | Pharmaceuticals
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0
Solta Medical | Devices
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	72	72
Solta Medical | OTC
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0
Solta Medical | Branded and Other Generics
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0
Solta Medical | Other revenues
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues		0
Diversified Products
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	249	296
Diversified Products | Pharmaceuticals
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	205	242
Diversified Products | Devices
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	0	0
Diversified Products | OTC
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	2	2
Diversified Products | Branded and Other Generics
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	36	47
Diversified Products | Other revenues
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 6	$ 5