|**Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets-Goodwill (Detail) (USD $)In Millions, unless otherwise specified**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    | 3 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|**Goodwill [Roll Forward]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
|Beginning balance                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            | $ 44,672                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
|Derecognition                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                | (272)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
|Other                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        | (648)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
|Ending balance                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               | 43,752                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
|Primary Care [Member]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
|**Goodwill [Roll Forward]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
|Beginning balance                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            | 6,152                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
|Derecognition                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                | 0                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
|Other                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        | (97)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
|Ending balance                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               | 6,055                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
|Specialty Care And Oncology [Member]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
|**Goodwill [Roll Forward]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
|Beginning balance                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            | 16,885                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
|Derecognition                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                | 0                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
|Other                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        | (266)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
|Ending balance                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               | 16,619                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
|Established Products and Emerging Markets [Member]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
|**Goodwill [Roll Forward]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
|Beginning balance                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            | 18,603                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
|Derecognition                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                | (272)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
|Other                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        | (288)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
|Ending balance                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               | 18,043                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
|Other Operating Segments [Member]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
|**Goodwill [Roll Forward]**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
|Beginning balance                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            | 3,032                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
|Derecognition                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                | 0                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
|Other                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        | 3                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
|Ending balance                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               | $ 3,035                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
|                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
|[1]
              Reflects the goodwill derecognized as part of the transfer of certain product rights, which constituted a business, to our equity-method investment in China. For additional information, see Note 2D. Acquisitions, Divestitures, Collaborative Arrangement and Equity-Method Investment: Equity-Method Investment.[2]
              Primarily reflects the impact of foreign exchange.[3]
              Reflects amounts associated with Animal Health (Zoetis) and Consumer Healthcare. | [1]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
|[1]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          | Reflects the goodwill derecognized as part of the transfer of certain product rights, which constituted a business, to our equity-method investment in China. For additional information, see Note 2D. Acquisitions, Divestitures, Collaborative Arrangement and Equity-Method Investment: Equity-Method Investment.
|[2]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          | Primarily reflects the impact of foreign exchange.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
|[3]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          | Reflects amounts associated with Animal Health (Zoetis) and Consumer Healthcare.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

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