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Associated companies (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2018
Disclosure of associates [line items] |  |  |
Net income statement effect | $ 673 | $ 659 | $ 6,438
Other comprehensive income effect | (56) | (94) | (482)
Total comprehensive income effect | 617 | 565 | 5,956
Recycling of the Novartis share of other comprehensive income from associated companies |  |  | (511)
Roche Holding AG, Switzerland |  |  |
Disclosure of associates [line items] |  |  |
Net income statement effect | 677 | 662 | 526
Other comprehensive income effect | (56) | (94) | 75
Total comprehensive income effect | 621 | 568 | 601
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Holdings Ltd., UK |  |  |
Disclosure of associates [line items] |  |  |
Net income statement effect |  |  | 5,910
Other comprehensive income effect |  |  | (557)
Total comprehensive income effect |  |  | 5,353
Others |  |  |
Disclosure of associates [line items] |  |  |
Net income statement effect | (4) | (3) | 2
Total comprehensive income effect | $ (4) | $ (3) | $ 2

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- Definition The entity's share of the profit (loss) of associates and joint ventures accounted for using the equity method. [Refer: Associates [member]; Investments accounted for using equity method; Joint ventures [member]; Profit (loss)] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IFRS -Number 8 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph 23 -Subparagraph g -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IFRS&num=8&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_23_g&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 -Note Effective on first application of IFRS 9 -Name IFRS -Number 4 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph 39M -Subparagraph b -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IFRS&num=4&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-b&anchor=para_39M_b&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2019-03-27 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 1 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph 82 -Subparagraph c -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=1&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_82_c&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2019-03-27 + Details
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- Definition The entity's share of the total comprehensive income of associates and joint ventures accounted for using the equity method. [Refer: Associates [member]; Joint ventures [member]; Investments accounted for using equity method] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IFRS -Number 12 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph B16 -Subparagraph d -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IFRS&num=12&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_B16_d&doctype=Appendix&subtype=B -URIDate 2019-03-27 + Details
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