XML 177 R94.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.20.4

Interest expense and other financial income and expense (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2018
Interest expense [abstract] |  |  |
Interest expense | $ (708) | $ (714) | $ (877)
Interest expense on lease liabilities | (67) | (66) |
Income/expense arising from discounting long-term liabilities | (94) | (70) | (55)
Total interest expense from continuing operations | $ (869) | $ (850) | $ (932)

X
- Definition The amount of expense recognised due to the unwinding of the discount on provisions, resulting from the effect of the passage of time. [Refer: Other provisions] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Name IAS -Number 1 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph 112 -Subparagraph c -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=1&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_112_c&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2019-03-27 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_ExpenseDueToUnwindingOfDiscountOnProvisions
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The amount of expense arising from interest. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IFRS -Number 8 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph 23 -Subparagraph d -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IFRS&num=8&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_23_d&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2019-03-27 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IFRS -Number 8 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph e -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IFRS&num=8&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_28_e&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2019-03-27 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IFRS -Number 12 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph B13 -Subparagraph f -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IFRS&num=12&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_B13_f&doctype=Appendix&subtype=B -URIDate 2019-03-27 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_InterestExpense
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The amount of interest expense on lease liabilities. [Refer: Lease liabilities] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IFRS -Number 16 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph 53 -Subparagraph b -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IFRS&num=16&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_53_b&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2019-03-27 + Details
Name: | ifrs-full_InterestExpenseOnLeaseLiabilities
Namespace Prefix: | ifrs-full_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | nvs_InterestExpenseAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | nvs_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | nvs_InterestExpenseExcludingExpenseDueToUnwindingOfDiscountOnProvisions
Namespace Prefix: | nvs_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration