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Associated companies (Details 5) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Disclosure of associates [line items]
Balance sheet value	$ 9,632	$ 8,644
Roche Holding AG, Switzerland
Disclosure of associates [line items]
Novartis share of estimated net assets	2,585
Novartis share of re-appraised intangible assets	117
Implicit Novartis goodwill	3,233
Current value of share in net identifiable assets and goodwill	5,935
Accumulated equity accounting adjustments and translation effects less dividends received	3,472
Balance sheet value	$ 9,407	$ 8,445

X

- Definition

The amount of additional goodwill recognised, except goodwill included in a disposal group that, on acquisition, meets the criteria to be classified as held for sale in accordance with IFRS 5. [Refer: Goodwill; Disposal groups classified as held for sale [member]]

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
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Line items represent concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes of the table.

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The amount of investments accounted for using the equity method. The equity method is a method of accounting whereby the investment is initially recognised at cost and adjusted thereafter for the post-acquisition change in the investor's share of net assets of the investee. The investor's profit or loss includes its share of the profit or loss of the investee. The investor's other comprehensive income includes its share of the other comprehensive income of the investee. [Refer: At cost [member]]

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
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- Definition

The increase (decrease) in intangible assets other than goodwill resulting from revaluations to fair value. [Refer: Intangible assets other than goodwill; Revaluation surplus]

+ References

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