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DISPOSITIONS AND HELD FOR SALE (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions			1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jul. 01, 2015	Jul. 18, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Investment in equity method investee					$ 33	$ 0	$ 0
Equity method investments carrying value					473	46
Pre-tax gain (loss) recognized					334	0	0
Deferred tax liability					112	23	19
Gain on sale of royalty rights		$ (474)			0	$ 0	$ 474
Non-core Assets Held for Sale [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Goodwill reclassified to current assets held-for-sale					113
Enterix [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Pre-tax gain (loss) recognized			$ (40)
Royalty Agreement Terms [Member] | Ibrutinib [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Proceeds from sale of intangible assets		$ 485
Q² Solutions [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Investment in equity method investee	$ 33
Equity method investment, ownership percentage	40.00%
Equity method investments carrying value					416
Deferred tax liability					$ 145
Excess of equity in underlying net assets	$ 219
Q² Solutions [Member] | Equity Method Investment, Basis Difference [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Amount allocated to finite-lived intangible assets	$ 75
Finite-lived intangible assets, remaining amortization period	8 years
Clinical Trials [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Pre-tax gain (loss) recognized				$ 334
Deferred tax liability				$ 145

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