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Post-employment benefits for associates (Details 3) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2019
Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheet [abstract] |  |
Prepaid benefit cost | $ 202 | $ 148
Pension plans |  |
Defined benefit plan, change in net liability [roll forward] |  |
Net liability at beginning of period | (3,321) | (3,409)
Current service cost | (372) | (336)
Net interest expense | (58) | (77)
Administrative expenses | (24) | (24)
Past service cost and settlements | 117 | (25)
Remeasurements | 21 | (126)
Currency translation effects | (190) | 21
Novartis Group contributions | 464 | 420
Effect of acquisitions, divestments or transfers | 11 | (10)
Change in limitation on recognition of fund surplus (incl. exchange rate differences) | 16 | 7
Net liability at end of period | (3,336) | (3,321)
Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheet [abstract] |  |
Prepaid benefit cost | 202 | 148
Accrued benefit liability | (3,538) | (3,469)
Other post-employment benefit plans |  |
Defined benefit plan, change in net liability [roll forward] |  |
Net liability at beginning of period | (612) | (954)
Current service cost | (11) | (13)
Net interest expense | (16) | (26)
Past service cost and settlements | (1) | 0
Remeasurements | 109 | (35)
Currency translation effects | 7 | 0
Novartis Group contributions |  | 74
Novartis Group contributions | (20) |
Effect of acquisitions, divestments or transfers | 1 | (3)
Net liability at end of period | (543) | (612)
Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheet [abstract] |  |
Accrued benefit liability | (543) | (612)
Discontinued operations [member] | Pension plans |  |
Defined benefit plan, change in net liability [roll forward] |  |
Net liability at beginning of period | 0 | 238
Net liability at end of period |  | 0
Discontinued operations [member] | Other post-employment benefit plans |  |
Defined benefit plan, change in net liability [roll forward] |  |
Net liability at beginning of period | $ 0 | 345
Net liability at end of period |  | $ 0

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- Definition The decrease (increase) in net defined benefit liability (asset) resulting from contributions to a defined benefit plan by the employer. [Refer: Net defined benefit liability (asset); Defined benefit plans [member]] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 19 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph 141 -Subparagraph f -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=19&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_141_f&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2019-03-27 + Details
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- Definition The increase (decrease) in the net defined benefit liability (asset) resulting from employee service in the current period. [Refer: Net defined benefit liability (asset)] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 19 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph 141 -Subparagraph a -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=19&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_141_a&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2019-03-27 + Details
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- Definition The decrease (increase) in a net defined benefit liability (asset) resulting from the remeasurement of that net defined benefit liability (asset). [Refer: Net defined benefit liability (asset)] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 19 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph 141 -Subparagraph c -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=19&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_141_c&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2019-03-27 + Details
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- Definition The increase (decrease) in the net defined benefit liability (asset) resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates. [Refer: Net defined benefit liability (asset)] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 19 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph 141 -Subparagraph e -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=19&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_141_e&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2019-03-27 + Details
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- Definition The increase (decrease) in the net defined benefit liability (asset) resulting from the passage of time. [Refer: Interest expense; Net defined benefit liability (asset)] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 19 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph 141 -Subparagraph b -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=19&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_141_b&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2019-03-27 + Details
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- Definition The amount of deficit or surplus in a defined benefit plan, adjusted for any effect of limiting a net defined benefit asset to the asset ceiling. [Refer: Defined benefit plans [member]] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 19 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph 140 -Subparagraph a -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=19&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_140_a&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2019-03-27 + Details
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- Definition The increase (decrease) in the net defined benefit liability (asset) resulting from past service cost and gains (losses) arising from settlements. [Refer: Gains (losses) arising from settlements, net defined benefit liability (asset); Net defined benefit liability (asset)] + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Name IAS -Number 19 -IssueDate 2019-01-01 -Paragraph 141 -Subparagraph d -URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=19&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_141_d&doctype=Standard -URIDate 2019-03-27 + Details
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