Business Combinations and Divestitures (Details) - USD ($)			3 Months Ended					4 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Oct. 02, 2017	Jun. 16, 2017	Oct. 01, 2017	Jul. 02, 2017	Apr. 02, 2017	Oct. 02, 2016	Jul. 03, 2016	Oct. 01, 2017	Oct. 01, 2017	Oct. 02, 2016	Jan. 01, 2017
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Proceeds from Sale of Productive Assets									$ 726,000,000	$ 873,000,000
Goodwill			$ 31,308,000,000					$ 31,308,000,000	31,308,000,000		$ 22,805,000,000
Payments to acquire businesses									34,646,000,000	4,050,000,000
Asset write-downs									309,000,000	187,000,000
API [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Proceeds from Sale of Productive Assets							$ 600,000,000
Medical Devices [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill			13,774,000,000					13,774,000,000	13,774,000,000		$ 11,702,000,000
Asset write-downs				$ 200,000,000					200,000,000
Actelion [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill, Subsequent Recognition of Deferred Tax Asset								200,000,000
Goodwill		$ 5,986,000,000	5,757,000,000					5,757,000,000	5,757,000,000
Business Acquisition, Share Price		$ 280
Payments to acquire businesses									29,100,000,000
Business Acquisition, Percentage of Voting Interests Acquired		98.40%
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred, Liabilities Incurred									500,000,000
Business Combination, Adjustment, Liabilities Incurred			200,000,000
Weighted average useful life		9 years
Business Combination, Revenue of acquiree since acquisition date, actual			670,000,000						761,000,000
Business Acquisition, Net Income (Loss) of acquiree since acquisition date, actual			(552,000,000)						(668,000,000)
Business Combination, Acquisition Related Costs			400,000,000						600,000,000
Actelion [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Asset, Useful Life		4 years
Actelion [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Asset, Useful Life		10 years
Actelion [Member] | In-process research and development
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Fair Value Inputs, Discount Rate		9.00%
Idorsia [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Acquisition, Percentage of Voting Interests Acquired		9.90%
Convertible Note, Equity Interest, Percentage		22.10%
Idorsia [Member] | Convertible Debt [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Long-term Debt		$ 500,000,000
Debt Instrument, Term		10 years
Idorsia [Member] | Line of Credit [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity		$ 250,000,000
Idorsia [Member] | Debt Instrument, Redemption, Period One [Member] | Convertible Debt [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Convertible Note, Equity Interest, Percentage		16.00%
Debt Instrument, Restrictive Covenants, Shareholder Ownership Threshold, Percent		20.00%
AMO [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Weighted average useful life					14 years 4 months 24 days
AMO [Member] | Medical Devices [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill			1,800,000,000		$ 1,800,000,000			1,800,000,000	1,800,000,000
Payments to acquire businesses					4,300,000,000
Total amortizable intangibles			2,300,000,000		$ 2,300,000,000
Vogue International LLC [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Payments to acquire businesses						$ 3,300,000,000
Weighted average useful life						22 years
Total amortizable intangibles						$ 2,300,000,000
Business Acquisition, Goodwill, Expected Tax Deductible Amount						$ 1,100,000,000				$ 1,100,000,000
Subsequent Event [Member] | Compeed [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Proceeds from Sale of Productive Assets	$ 1,000,000,000
Trademarks | Vogue International LLC [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Asset, Useful Life						22 years
Trademarks | Vogue International LLC [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Asset, Useful Life						10 years
Trademarks | Vogue International LLC [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Asset, Useful Life						22 years
Customer Relationships [Member] | Vogue International LLC [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Asset, Useful Life						15 years
Discontinued Operations, Held-for-sale or Disposed of by Sale [Member] | Codman Neurosurgery [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Inventory, Current			63,000,000					63,000,000	63,000,000
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Other Assets, Noncurrent			33,000,000					33,000,000	33,000,000
Goodwill			$ 106,000,000					$ 106,000,000	$ 106,000,000