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Collaborative Arrangements - Schedule of Collaborative Arrangement Transactions (Details) - Collaborative Arrangement - USD ($) $ in Millions | 3 Months Ended
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Mar. 31, 2018 | Mar. 31, 2017
AstraZeneca |  |
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items] |  |
Receivables from counterparty | $ 31 |
Payables to counterparty | 783 |
AstraZeneca | Revenue |  |
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items] |  |
Total Sales | 33 |
AstraZeneca | Materials and production |  |
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items] |  |
Expenses | 12 |
AstraZeneca | Marketing and administrative |  |
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items] |  |
Expenses | 7 |
AstraZeneca | Research and development |  |
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items] |  |
Expenses | 29 |
Bayer AG |  |
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items] |  |
Receivables from counterparty | 35 |
Payables to counterparty | 0 |
Bayer AG | Revenue |  |
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items] |  |
Product sales, net | 43 | $ 31
Profit sharing | 25 | 53
Total Sales | 68 | 84
Bayer AG | Materials and production |  |
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items] |  |
Expenses | 27 | 23
Bayer AG | Marketing and administrative |  |
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items] |  |
Expenses | 8 | 7
Bayer AG | Research and development |  |
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items] |  |
Expenses | $ 32 | $ 22

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- Definition Collaborative Arrangement, Expenses + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | mrk_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Collaborative Arrangement, Payable + References No definition available. + Details
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Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

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- Definition Collaborative Arrangement, Profit Sharing + References No definition available. + Details
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Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
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- Definition Collaborative Arrangement, Receivable + References No definition available. + Details
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Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

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- Definition Collaborative Arrangement, Revenues, Net of Commercialization Costs + References No definition available. + Details
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Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Collaborative Arrangement, Sales, Net + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | mrk_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

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- Details
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- Details
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- Details
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- Details
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- Details
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- Details
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