SEGMENT AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION - Operating Income to Income from Continuing Operations Reconciliation (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Total reportable segment operating income	$ 14,000,000	$ 707,000,000	$ (2,845,000,000)
Intangible asset amortization expense	625,000,000	590,000,000	679,000,000
Long-lived asset impairments	50,000,000	0	344,000,000
Goodwill impairments	425,000,000	0	2,812,000,000
Loss on subsidiary liquidation	0	0	(21,000,000)
Interest expense, net	341,000,000	439,000,000	394,000,000
Other (income) expense, net	(38,000,000)	26,000,000	9,000,000
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(289,000,000)	242,000,000	(3,248,000,000)
Total depreciation expense	372,000,000	394,000,000	393,000,000
Reportable Segment
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Total reportable segment operating income	14,000,000	707,000,000	(2,845,000,000)
Interest expense, net	341,000,000	439,000,000	394,000,000
Other (income) expense, net	(38,000,000)	26,000,000	9,000,000
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(289,000,000)	242,000,000	(3,248,000,000)
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Goodwill impairments	425,000,000
Operating Segments | Medical Products & Therapies
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Total reportable segment operating income	950,000,000	972,000,000	962,000,000
Goodwill impairments	0
Total depreciation expense	201,000,000	232,000,000	217,000,000
Operating Segments | Healthcare Systems & Technologies
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Total reportable segment operating income	468,000,000	483,000,000	494,000,000
Goodwill impairments	425,000,000
Total depreciation expense	109,000,000	108,000,000	117,000,000
Operating Segments | Pharmaceuticals
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Total reportable segment operating income	313,000,000	401,000,000	391,000,000
Goodwill impairments	0
Total depreciation expense	62,000,000	54,000,000	59,000,000
Operating Segments | Reportable Segment
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Total reportable segment operating income	1,731,000,000	1,856,000,000	1,847,000,000
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item, Excluding Corporate Nonsegment | Reportable Segment
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Other	18,000,000	18,000,000	77,000,000
Unallocated corporate costs	(275,000,000)	(355,000,000)	(367,000,000)
Intangible asset amortization expense	(625,000,000)	(590,000,000)	(679,000,000)
Business optimization items	(162,000,000)	(174,000,000)	(193,000,000)
European Medical Devices Regulation	(33,000,000)	(41,000,000)	(42,000,000)
Long-lived asset impairments	(50,000,000)	0	(344,000,000)
Legal matters	(17,000,000)	(7,000,000)	0
Acquisition and integration items	(23,000,000)	0	(213,000,000)
Product-related items	(15,000,000)	0	(44,000,000)
Hurricane Helene Costs	(110,000,000)	0	0
Loss on product divestiture arrangement	0	0	(54,000,000)
Goodwill impairments	(425,000,000)	0	(2,812,000,000)
Loss on subsidiary liquidation	$ 0	$ 0	$ (21,000,000)