Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets Narrative (Detail) (USD $) In Billions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended								0 Months Ended													0 Months Ended
	Oct. 02, 2011	Oct. 03, 2010	Oct. 02, 2011	Oct. 03, 2010	Oct. 02, 2011 Primary Care [Member] Developed Technology Rights [Member]	Oct. 02, 2011 Nutrition [Member] Developed Technology Rights [Member]	Oct. 02, 2011 Developed Technology Rights [Member] Specialty Care [Member]	Oct. 02, 2011 Developed Technology Rights [Member] Established Products [Member]	Oct. 02, 2011 Developed Technology Rights [Member] Animal Health [Member]	Oct. 02, 2011 Developed Technology Rights [Member] Oncology [Member]	Oct. 25, 2011 Developed Technology Rights [Member] Change in Product Status [Member] Prevnar / Prevenar 13 Adult [Member]	Oct. 02, 2011 Finite Lived Brands [Member] Established Products [Member]	Oct. 02, 2011 Finite Lived Brands [Member] Animal Health [Member]	Oct. 02, 2011 Finite Lived Brands [Member] Consumer Healthcare [Member]	Oct. 02, 2011 Nutrition [Member] Indefinite Lived Brands [Member]	Oct. 02, 2011 Indefinite Lived Brands [Member] Established Products [Member]	Oct. 02, 2011 Indefinite Lived Brands [Member] Consumer Healthcare [Member]	Oct. 02, 2011 Primary Care [Member] In Process Research And Development [Member]	Oct. 02, 2011 In Process Research And Development [Member] Specialty Care [Member]	Oct. 02, 2011 In Process Research And Development [Member] Established Products [Member]	Oct. 02, 2011 In Process Research And Development [Member] Animal Health [Member]	Oct. 02, 2011 In Process Research And Development [Member] Oncology [Member]	Oct. 02, 2011 In Process Research And Development [Member] Worldwide Research and Development [Member]	Oct. 25, 2011 In Process Research And Development [Member] Change in Product Status [Member] Prevnar / Prevenar 13 Adult [Member]
Finite Lived and Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Percentage Of Finite-lived Intangible Asset Amortized Cost By Segment					16.00%	1.00%	62.00%	18.00%	2.00%	1.00%		29.00%	14.00%	57.00%
Percentage Of Indefinite-lived Intangible Asset Unamortized Costs By Segment															22.00%	28.00%	50.00%	6.00%	75.00%	3.00%	1.00%	2.00%	13.00%
Asset Reclassification Amount Increase											$ 1.8
Asset Reclassification Amount Decrease																								1.8
Amortization expense for finite-lived intangible assets	$ 1.4	$ 1.2	$ 4.3	$ 4.1