Segments of Business and Geographic Areas - Operating Profit by Segment of Business (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Apr. 01, 2019	Sep. 27, 2020	Sep. 29, 2019	Sep. 27, 2020	Sep. 29, 2019
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Percentage Change In Sales By Geographic Area		1.70%		(2.00%)
Sales to customers		$ 21,082	$ 20,729	$ 60,109	$ 61,312
Percentage Change in Operating Income Loss				13.30%
Earnings before provision for taxes on income		4,401	1,647	$ 14,850	13,110
In-process research and development		138	0	144	890
Reversal of contingent consideration				1,148	0
Restructuring charges		68	69	187	162
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Amount prepaid and due to manufacturers		800
Consumer Health*
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales to customers		3,514	3,469	10,435	10,331
Restructuring charges				100	100
Litigation expense		500		1,200	200
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Litigation expense		500		1,200	200
PHARMACEUTICAL
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales to customers		11,418	10,877	33,304	31,650
In-process research and development					900
Litigation expense		1,000	4,000	1,000	4,300
Research and Development Expense					300
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Litigation expense		1,000	4,000	1,000	4,300
Medical Devices
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales to customers		6,150	6,383	16,370	19,331
Restructuring charges		100	100	200	200
Litigation expense					300
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Litigation expense					300
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Segment Operating Income		4,640	1,823	$ 15,461	13,664
Percentage Change in Operating Income Loss				13.20%
Operating Segments | Consumer Health*
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Segment Operating Income		$ 191	653	$ 993	1,800
Percentage Change in Operating Income Loss		(70.80%)		(44.80%)
Amortization		$ 100	100	$ 300	300
Operating Segments | PHARMACEUTICAL
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Segment Operating Income		3,439	(222)	11,787	5,786
Amortization		800	800	2,400	2,400
Restructuring charges				100	100
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Securities			(100)	200	200
Acquisition Costs, Period Cost					100
Operating Segments | Medical Devices
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Segment Operating Income		$ 1,010	1,392	$ 2,681	6,078
Percentage Change in Operating Income Loss		(27.40%)		(55.90%)
Amortization		$ 200	200	$ 700	700
In-process research and development		100		100
Corporate, Non-Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Segment Operating Income		$ 239	176	611	554
Ci:z Holdings Co. Ltd. | Consumer Health*
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Gain on sale of equity investments					300
Auris Health
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Reversal of contingent consideration				$ 1,148
United States
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Percentage Change In Sales By Geographic Area		2.70%		0.00%
Sales to customers		$ 11,086	10,791	$ 31,324	31,323
United States | Consumer Health*
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales to customers		1,556	1,394	4,853	4,369
United States | PHARMACEUTICAL
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales to customers		6,438	6,340	18,619	17,705
United States | Medical Devices
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales to customers		$ 3,092	3,057	$ 7,852	9,249
Europe
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Percentage Change In Sales By Geographic Area		8.00%		(0.70%)
Sales to customers		$ 4,819	4,461	$ 13,709	13,803
Western Hemisphere, excluding U.S.
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Percentage Change In Sales By Geographic Area		(12.90%)		(11.60%)
Sales to customers		$ 1,296	1,488	$ 3,931	4,446
Asia-Pacific, Africa
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Percentage Change In Sales By Geographic Area		(2.70%)		(5.10%)
Sales to customers		$ 3,881	$ 3,989	$ 11,145	11,740
AdvancedSterilizationProducts
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Gain from divestiture of business	$ 2,000
AdvancedSterilizationProducts | Medical Devices
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Gain from divestiture of business					$ 2,000
Other Income | Auris Health
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Reversal of contingent consideration				1,100
Other Income | Auris Health | Medical Devices
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Reversal of contingent consideration		$ 200		$ 1,100