Financial Instruments Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Other selected financial assets
Held-to-maturity debt securities, carried at amortized cost	$ 1,470	[1],[2]	$ 1,513	[1],[2]
Private equity securities, carried at equity method or at cost	2,434	[2],[3]	1,239	[2],[3]
Total	3,904		2,752
Total selected financial assets	50,591		38,850
Other financial liabilities
Short-term borrowings, carried at historical proceeds, as adjusted	8,896	[2],[4]	6,424	[2],[4]
Long-term debt, carried at historical proceeds, as adjusted	31,481	[4],[5],[6]	31,036	[4],[5],[6]
Total	40,377	[4]	37,460	[4]
Total selected financial liabilities	41,325	[4]	38,164	[4]
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Financial assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis	46,687	[7],[8]	36,098	[7],[8]
Financial instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis:
Financial liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis	948	[7],[9]	704	[7],[9]
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Trading securities [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Financial assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis	119	[10],[7]	142	[10],[7]
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Available For-Sale Securities [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Financial assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis	43,811	[1],[7]	32,584	[1],[7]
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Available-for-sale money market funds [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Financial assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis	1,117	[11],[7]	1,727	[11],[7]
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Available-for-sale equity securities, excluding money market funds [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Financial assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis	312	[1],[7]	263	[1],[7]
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Interest rate swaps [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Derivative assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis	791	[7],[8]	1,036	[7],[8]
Financial instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis:
Financial liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis	26	[7],[9]	33	[7],[9]
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Foreign currency forward-exchange contracts [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Derivative assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis	249	[7],[8]	152	[7],[8]
Financial instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis:
Financial liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis	99	[7],[9]	243	[7],[9]
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] | Foreign Exchange Contract [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Derivative assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis	288	[7],[8]	194	[7],[8]
Financial instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis:
Financial liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis	$ 823	[7],[9]	$ 428	[7],[9]

[1] Gross unrealized gains and losses are not significant.

[2] The differences between the estimated fair values and carrying values of held-to-maturity debt securities, private equity securities at cost and short-term borrowings not measured at fair value on a recurring basis were not significant as of March 31, 2013 or December 31, 2012. The fair value measurements of our held-to-maturity debt securities and our short-term borrowings are based on Level 2 inputs, using a market approach. The fair value measurements of our private equity securities at cost are based on Level 3 inputs, using a market approach.

[3] Our private equity securities represent investments in the life sciences sector. The increase in 2013 primarily reflects an increased investment in our equity-method investment in China. For additional information, see Note 2D. Acquisitions, Divestitures, Collaborative Arrangement and Equity-Method Investment: Equity-Method Investment.

[4] Some carrying amounts may include adjustments for discount or premium amortization or for the effect of interest rate swaps designated as hedges.

[5] The fair value of our long-term debt (not including the current portion of long-term debt) is $37.8 billion as of March 31, 2013 and $37.5 billion as of December 31, 2012. The fair value measurements for our long-term debt are based on Level 2 inputs, using a market approach.

[6] Includes foreign currency debt with fair values of $735 million as of March 31, 2013 and $809 million as of December 31, 2012, which are used as hedging instruments.

[7] We use a market approach in valuing financial instruments on a recurring basis. For additional information, see Note 1C. Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies: Fair Value. All of our financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis use Level 2 inputs in the calculation of fair value, except less than 1% that use Level 1 or Level 3 inputs.

[8] Designated as hedging instruments, except for certain contracts used as offsets; namely, foreign currency forward-exchange contracts with fair values of $155 million as of March 31, 2013; and foreign currency forward-exchange contracts with fair values of $102 million as of December 31, 2012.

[9] Designated as hedging instruments, except for certain foreign currency contracts used as offsets; namely, foreign currency swaps with fair values of $202 million and foreign currency forward-exchange contracts with fair values of $56 million as of March 31, 2013; and foreign currency forward-exchange contracts with fair values of $141 million and foreign currency swaps with fair values of $129 million as of December 31, 2012.

[10] Trading securities are held in trust for legacy business acquisition severance benefits.

[11] Includes $422 million as of March 31, 2013 and $408 million as of December 31, 2012 of money market funds held in trust in connection with the asbestos litigation involving Quigley Company, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary.