| **Identifiable Intangible Assets and Goodwill - Goodwill (Detail) $ in Millions**            | 6 Months Ended |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------|
||
| **Goodwill [Roll Forward]**                                                                  |                |   |
| Balance, December 31, 2014                                                                   | [1]            | $ 42,069 |
| Balance, June 28, 2015                                                                       | [1]            | 41,571 |
| Operating Segments [Member]                                                                  |                |   |
| **Goodwill [Roll Forward]**                                                                  |                |   |
| Balance, December 31, 2014                                                                   |                | 42,069 |
| Additions                                                                                    |                | 39 |
| Other                                                                                        | [2]            | (537) |
| Balance, June 28, 2015                                                                       |                | 41,571 |
| Global Innovative Pharmaceutical [Member]                                                    |                |   |
| **Goodwill [Roll Forward]**                                                                  |                |   |
| Balance, December 31, 2014                                                                   |                | 13,032 |
| Additions                                                                                    |                | 0 |
| Other                                                                                        | [2]            | (161) |
| Balance, June 28, 2015                                                                       |                | 12,871 |
| Global Vaccines, Oncology and Consumer Healthcare [Member]                                   |                |   |
| **Goodwill [Roll Forward]**                                                                  |                |   |
| Balance, December 31, 2014                                                                   |                | 11,398 |
| Additions                                                                                    |                | 39 |
| Other                                                                                        | [2]            | (156) |
| Balance, June 28, 2015                                                                       |                | 11,281 |
| Global Established Pharmaceutical [Member]                                                   |                |   |
| **Goodwill [Roll Forward]**                                                                  |                |   |
| Balance, December 31, 2014                                                                   |                | 17,639 |
| Additions                                                                                    |                | 0 |
| Other                                                                                        | [2]            | (220) |
| Balance, June 28, 2015                                                                       |                | $ 17,419 |
|                                                                                              |
| [1]Amounts may not add due to rounding.[2]Primarily reflects the impact of foreign exchange. |

| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Amount after accumulated impairment loss of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388280&loc=d3e13770-109266
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Amount of increase in asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized resulting from a business combination.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Amount of other (increase) decrease of an asset representing the future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (g) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period.
+ References
No definition available.
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