Revenue (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020 USD ($) segment	Mar. 31, 2019 USD ($) segment
Revenue
Number of reportable segments | segment	4	4
Net sales	$ 7,726	$ 7,535
U.S.
Revenue
Net sales	2,856	2,754
Int'l
Revenue
Net sales	4,870	4,781
Established Pharmaceutical Products
Revenue
Net sales	1,044	992
Established Pharmaceutical Products | Int'l
Revenue
Net sales	1,044	992
Nutritional Products
Revenue
Net sales	1,904	1,792
Nutritional Products | U.S.
Revenue
Net sales	812	747
Nutritional Products | Int'l
Revenue
Net sales	1,092	1,045
Diagnostic Products
Revenue
Net sales	1,826	1,841
Diagnostic Products | U.S.
Revenue
Net sales	803	724
Diagnostic Products | Int'l
Revenue
Net sales	1,023	1,117
Medical Devices
Revenue
Net sales	2,937	2,895
Medical Devices | U.S.
Revenue
Net sales	1,233	1,275
Medical Devices | Int'l
Revenue
Net sales	1,704	1,620
Other
Revenue
Net sales	15	15
Other | U.S.
Revenue
Net sales	8	8
Other | Int'l
Revenue
Net sales	7	7
Key Emerging Markets | Established Pharmaceutical Products
Revenue
Net sales	813	752
Key Emerging Markets | Established Pharmaceutical Products | Int'l
Revenue
Net sales	813	752
Other | Established Pharmaceutical Products
Revenue
Net sales	231	240
Other | Established Pharmaceutical Products | Int'l
Revenue
Net sales	231	240
Pediatric Nutritionals | Nutritional Products
Revenue
Net sales	1,089	1,029
Pediatric Nutritionals | Nutritional Products | U.S.
Revenue
Net sales	518	453
Pediatric Nutritionals | Nutritional Products | Int'l
Revenue
Net sales	571	576
Adult Nutritionals | Nutritional Products
Revenue
Net sales	815	763
Adult Nutritionals | Nutritional Products | U.S.
Revenue
Net sales	294	294
Adult Nutritionals | Nutritional Products | Int'l
Revenue
Net sales	521	469
Core Laboratory | Diagnostic Products
Revenue
Net sales	989	1,061
Core Laboratory | Diagnostic Products | U.S.
Revenue
Net sales	267	249
Core Laboratory | Diagnostic Products | Int'l
Revenue
Net sales	722	812
Molecular | Diagnostic Products
Revenue
Net sales	139	108
Molecular | Diagnostic Products | U.S.
Revenue
Net sales	65	40
Molecular | Diagnostic Products | Int'l
Revenue
Net sales	74	68
Point of Care | Diagnostic Products
Revenue
Net sales	138	135
Point of Care | Diagnostic Products | U.S.
Revenue
Net sales	103	109
Point of Care | Diagnostic Products | Int'l
Revenue
Net sales	35	26
Rapid Diagnostics | Diagnostic Products
Revenue
Net sales	560	537
Rapid Diagnostics | Diagnostic Products | U.S.
Revenue
Net sales	368	326
Rapid Diagnostics | Diagnostic Products | Int'l
Revenue
Net sales	192	211
Rhythm Management | Medical Devices
Revenue
Net sales	474	514
Rhythm Management | Medical Devices | U.S.
Revenue
Net sales	228	252
Rhythm Management | Medical Devices | Int'l
Revenue
Net sales	246	262
Electrophysiology | Medical Devices
Revenue
Net sales	388	405
Electrophysiology | Medical Devices | U.S.
Revenue
Net sales	164	174
Electrophysiology | Medical Devices | Int'l
Revenue
Net sales	224	231
Heart Failure | Medical Devices
Revenue
Net sales	203	184
Heart Failure | Medical Devices | U.S.
Revenue
Net sales	152	143
Heart Failure | Medical Devices | Int'l
Revenue
Net sales	51	41
Vascular | Medical Devices
Revenue
Net sales	625	709
Vascular | Medical Devices | U.S.
Revenue
Net sales	230	266
Vascular | Medical Devices | Int'l
Revenue
Net sales	395	443
Structural Heart | Medical Devices
Revenue
Net sales	318	324
Structural Heart | Medical Devices | U.S.
Revenue
Net sales	136	136
Structural Heart | Medical Devices | Int'l
Revenue
Net sales	182	188
Neuromodulation | Medical Devices
Revenue
Net sales	177	193
Neuromodulation | Medical Devices | U.S.
Revenue
Net sales	137	152
Neuromodulation | Medical Devices | Int'l
Revenue
Net sales	40	41
Diabetes Care | Medical Devices
Revenue
Net sales	752	566
Diabetes Care | Medical Devices | U.S.
Revenue
Net sales	186	152
Diabetes Care | Medical Devices | Int'l
Revenue
Net sales	$ 566	$ 414