INCOME TAXES (Effective Tax Rate Reconciliation) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract]
U.S. Earnings/(Loss) before income taxes	$ (1,329)	$ (349)	$ (135)
Non-U.S. Earnings before income taxes	3,406	2,730	3,026
Earnings Before Income Taxes	2,077	2,381	2,891
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Amount [Abstract]
U.S. statutory rate, Amount	727	833	1,012
Foreign tax effect of certain operations in Ireland, Puerto Rico and Switzerland	(535)	(509)	(620)
U.S. tax effect of capital losses, Amount		(361)
Valuation allowance release	(84)		(10)
U.S. Federal, state and foreign contingent tax matters, Amount	56	228	134
U.S. Federal research based credits, amount	(132)	(131)	(220)
Non-tax deductible goodwill related to diabetes divestiture, Amount	25	210
Non-tax deductible U.S. Branded Prescription Drug fee, Amount	44	84	63
Non-tax deductible research and development charge, Amount	369	52
State and local taxes (net of valuation allowance), Amount	16	20	25
Foreign and other, Amount	(40)	(74)	(73)
Provision for Income Taxes	446	352	311
Undistributed Earnings of Foreign Subsidiaries	$ 25,000
Transfer pricing reserves		$ 123
Retroactive reinstatement of the 2012 research and development tax credit recognized in 2013			$ 82
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Percent [Abstract]
U.S. statutory income tax rate	35.00%	35.00%	35.00%
Foreign tax effect of certain operations in Ireland, Puerto Rico and Switzerland, Rate	(25.80%)	(21.40%)	(21.40%)
U.S. tax effect of capital losses, Rate		(15.20%)
Valuation allowance release percent	(4.00%)		(0.30%)
U.S. Federal, state and foreign contingent tax matters, Rate	2.70%	9.60%	4.60%
U.S. Federal research based credits, Rate	(6.40%)	(5.40%)	(7.60%)
Non-tax deductible goodwill related to diabetes divestiture, Rate	1.20%	8.80%
Non-tax deductible U.S. Branded Prescription Drug Fee, Rate	2.10%	3.50%	2.20%
Non-tax deductible research and development charge, Rate	17.80%	2.20%
State and local taxes (net of valuation allowance), Rate	0.80%	0.80%	0.90%
Foreign and other, Rate	(1.90%)	(3.10%)	(2.60%)
Effective income tax/(benefit) rate	21.50%	14.80%	10.80%