SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Maximum term of original maturity to classify instruments as cash and cash equivalents (in months)	3 months
Concentrations of Credit Risk
Maximum term of original maturity of marketable securities (in years)	1 year	3 years
Concentrations of Credit Risk
Net trade receivable	$ 468,539	$ 234,020
Greece
Concentrations of Credit Risk
Net trade receivable	$ 7,200
Minimum \| Greece
Concentrations of Credit Risk
Past due period for receivables to be negligible (in days)	90
Maximum \| Greece
Concentrations of Credit Risk
Period net trade receivable balance outstanding (in years)	1
Three largest U.S. wholesaler customers
Concentrations of Credit Risk
Number of largest wholesale customers	3
Trade receivables \| Credit concentration \| Three largest U.S. wholesaler customers
Concentrations of Credit Risk
Concentration risk, percentage	32.00%	46.00%
Trade receivables \| Credit concentration \| Three largest U.S. wholesaler customers \| U.S
Concentrations of Credit Risk
Number of largest wholesale customers	3

Amount due from customers or clients, within one year of the balance sheet date (or the normal operating cycle, whichever is longer), for goods or services (including trade receivables) that have been delivered or sold in the normal course of business, reduced to the estimated net realizable fair value by an allowance established by the entity of the amount it deems uncertain of collection.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph a(1)

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 4

-Article 5

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.3-4)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskLineItems
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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

For an entity that discloses a concentration risk in relation to quantitative amount, which serves as the "benchmark" (or denominator) in the equation, this concept represents the concentration percentage derived from the division.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 275

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 20

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6927468&loc=d3e6404-108592

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 825

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 21

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6947722&loc=d3e13537-108611

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 825

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 20

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6947722&loc=d3e13531-108611

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 275

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 18

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6927468&loc=d3e6351-108592

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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	vrx_ConcentrationOfCreditRiskAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	vrx_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the maximum term of original maturity of marketable securities.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	vrx_
Data Type:	us-types:durationStringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the maximum original term of maturity for an instrument to be classified as cash or cash equivalent.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vrx_MaximumTermOfOriginalMaturityToClassifyInstrumentsAsCashAndCashEquivalents
Namespace Prefix:	vrx_
Data Type:	us-types:durationStringItemType
Balance Type:	na
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- Definition

Represents the number of largest wholesale customers.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vrx_NumberOfLargestWholesaleCustomers
Namespace Prefix:	vrx_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the past due period for which accounts receivabls are negligible.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	vrx_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
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- Definition

The period of time the accounts receivable has been outstanding.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	vrx_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration